What is the State of Strategy Execution?

Many leaders are reflecting on the progress of their key strategic initiatives, as they approach mid-year. With this in mind, we created a snapshot of strategy execution to provide context as well as inspiration.

For our mid-year state of strategy execution report, we are using a summer theme. We are going to present the essence of strategy on a beer mat. That is a snapshot of 29 big projects or strategic initiatives representing an investment of $99 million, with a forecasted business impact of approximately $490 million. The data was provided by those directly responsible for bringing these initiatives to life.

So, what do these projects tell us about the current state of strategy and execution?

1. Strategic Ambition Remains High

The ambition behind strategy is strong—what we call the “shoot for the moon” score sits at 78%. This reflects bold objectives and high aspirations.

2. Confidence in Delivery is Lower

Despite high ambition, the confidence level—the “feet on the ground” score—is at 69%. This is a measure of perceived risk and execution feasibility. If this confidence level holds, it suggests that only 69% of the targeted business impact may be realized, potentially leading to a shortfall of $152 million.

3. Team Productivity is Under Pressure

Execution depends heavily on the productivity of the teams delivering the strategy. The “Get Stuff Done” score across the 29 projects averages 65%. This indicates that up to 35% of available energy, creativity, and time is being lost—an alarming performance penalty that threatens project success.

This snapshot reveals the levers available to leaders in executing on ambitious strategies. in particular, the potential to boost productivity enabling those charged with execution to get more stuff done. It also point to opportunities to double down on the level of confidence regarding Strategy.

Why these 3 metrics? Ambition, confidence and productivity are powerful C-suite metrics in respect of executing on strategy. In addition to being a talisman for success, they enable powerful strategic conversations that illuminate not just the technical, but also the adaptive (i.e. mindset) aspects of strategy. For more on these metrics, see our new book: Super Projects – Making Extraordinary Things Happen.

Want to assess your own strategy execution?

If you’d like to get a similar snapshot for your strategy or portfolio—or even a more detailed analysis—talk to us at www.growthpitstop.com