Why is implementing strategy so hard?

There are many reasons people give us about why implementing strategy is so hard: fuzzy or unsuitable strategies lack of time to implement strategies inability to adapt once things change difficulty involving their team hard to incorporate into day to day operations excessive effort required to achieve focus and enthusiasm fizzle out While there is some truth in the above, there are only two real reasons that make strategy implementation so hard... Effective strategy is: All about influencing behaviour, and  An every day, everywhere, everyone activity. 1. Effective strategy implementation is about influencing behaviour If we want different results, we have to do things differently And if we are going to do things differently, we have to influence behaviour to be different. Many managers plan their strategy implementation by creating a massive 'to do' list, or a detailed, step by step plan laying out all that needs doing.  These managers will invariably look back on all their hard work and wonder why it didn't make a difference to the bottom line. This is because they forgot their fundamental role is to influence behaviour and telling people what to do, is an ineffective way to influence behaviour. The ineffectiveness of telling Telling people what to do assumes that that you can foresee every little complexity and variability, and account for it in your plan. Telling people what to do assumes they will understand it perfectly, and do exactly as you have instructed, even if they have had different habits and experiences in the past. A more effective approach Smart managers understand strategy implementation is about influencing behaviour and they use all four available methods to do this comprehensively. Yes they understand that 'telling' is one of the methods, but telling is the smallest leverage method and should be used sparingly, there are three far more effective methods available to managers to influence behaviour.  These methods provide greater leverage and independence for managers, and facilitate improved performance from staff. Activate teach managers how to effectively and appropriately use all four methods of influencing behaviour. 2. Strategy implementation is also hard, because it is an every day, everyone, every where activity Many managers plan their strategy implementation like it is a separate activity from the day to day running of the business. Like oil and water Some strategy implementation approaches are like trying to mix oil and water - it only works when you are putting lots of effort into it and shaking things up a lot! This is still ineffective as once the shaking stops, the new and the old separate, just like the oil and water. Recognising that strategy implementation is a business as usual activity is a powerful first step.  Most strategy implementation does not require doing new things, but doing the same things in a new way. This is why understanding how to influence behaviour on a day to day basis is essential.  In order to effectively implement strategy you need your people to do many of their normal things in a slightly different way. Activate teach simple tools and techniques to make this easier and more effective in your business, no matter what your strategy is.

It is true, strategy implementation is hard.

Return to top