Strategy and execution: it’s time to close the gap 

LinkedIn says “strategy” and “strategizing” are in the 10 most common bio words in all of LinkedIn. “Execute” or “executor” aren’t in the top 1 000.

It’s obvious that people focus on strategizing because it’s easier than executing, it’s seductive and it triggers all of your dopamine pathways. We need more execution. Be an executor.

This post by our business coach, Spillly triggered a bunch of different thoughts and emotions for me.

1. The first was feeling a bit sheepish, as I know execution isn’t always my strong suit!
2. Then I questioned whether strategy is actually easier than execution… and think it comes down to how we’re wired, and what our strengths are, rather than it being the same for everyone.
3. My next thought was that you can’t execute without a solid strategy in place. 
4. And the final one was the thought that stuck, and inspired this blog post: how can we get the right synergy between the two at Yellow Door, and for our clients?

I’m a big believer that opposites not only attract but are necessary for a strong partnership. But, there’s a catch… as you need clear, effective communication to be aligned, and this is often easier said than done.

Let’s use Yellow Door as an example.

I’ve always thrived when I can focus on the big picture, give strategic input and run workshops for clients; whereas Dom is incredible at overseeing processes, automation and workflow. She’s detail orientated and a problem-solver. She gets s**t done. In theory, we have a winning combination – but in practice, it only really works when we’re aligned and feeding the right information through to each other and the rest of the team. We can’t work in silos, and we will fall short if we try to do one without the other. 

If I look back on our most successful projects and client relationships, there is a pattern emerging, and the framework looks something like this:

1. Get clarity on the mission and vision 
2. Map out a strategy before you start execution planning 
3. Create high-level OKRs for the year, and drill down into the detail for the quarter
4. Assemble the right team to get the job done well and on time – with clear roles & responsibilities mapped out 
5. Do regular pulse checks with the right communication rhythms to keep all key role players in the loop, without overloading them with information 
6. Track key metrics, analyse them and adjust the game plan as you go 

In this blog post I’m going to unpack the first two, and what clients can expect when they start working with Yellow Door. 

Get clarity 

Finding clarity on your mission and vision is no small feat, and often something that takes time to really pin down. The first step is to understand what these phrases actually mean, so that you know what you’re working towards. I really like these definitions from GTMHub: 

Mission is the reason your company exists. 

Vision builds on mission, by taking into account where the company is at the moment and where it wishes to go. It provides a more practical direction on how to achieve the mission. 

It’s a great reminder that a vision isn’t just some airy-fairy idea; it serves a purpose. 

In a first workshop with a new client, we use a couple of practical and interactive exercises to unpack and understand their why. It’s a great way to get everyone in the room aligned with a common purpose.  

Start with a strategy 

Strategy and execution planning are often confused or used inter-changeably, but they actually should follow on from each other. Our approach is to map out a high-level one- to three-year strategy, then do more detailed execution planning for the first year. 

Simply put, the idea is to have a north star to work towards, but also a practical roap map of how to get there. 

Entrepreneurs and business owners are renowned for getting distracted by the next shiny thing that crosses their path, so we do our best to keep them on the straight and narrow without stifling creativity! 

We tailor a series of workshops to suit each client, using a similar framework and approach for each one, but with questions, exercises and content specific to their brand and objectives. 

Rather than telling you what you’ll get out of it, I thought I’d share this feedback from Julia Finnis-Bedford, founder of Amazing Spaces:

The Yellow Door team led us through a process that resulted in tangible and exciting ideas, who would own them, and how we would execute them. We left feeling inspired and excited!

If this sounds like something that you’d like to invest in, please reach out – I’d love to connect.