imapMyTeam Blog

How You Use Strategy and Tactics to Execute the Plan

When it comes to executing the plan, is it the strategy or the tactics that produces the best business results?

There is a great quote by Jack Welch from his book “Winning”.  He says “In real life, strategy is actually very straightforward, you pick a general direction and implement like hell”.  Mr. Welch may be describing our workplaces more accurately than we would care to admit.

When we facilitate group programs using the imapMyTeam information we often describe the strength  [diamond symbol] of ‘blues’ as those who are future oriented and make sure we are ‘doing the right things.’ They are good at making sure we are pointed the right way before we begin any action. The opposite complimentary strength [diamond symbol] are the ‘reds’  who are more concerned with the ‘now’ and action and want to make sure we move intangibles [ideas] to tangibles by getting a lot done through “implementing like hell” to ensure that the strategy works well.

For any endeavor to be successful we need people on the team who are adroit at the strategic and the tactical. Not everyone can be both. Some roles on teams are clearly defined to be one or another. The long-term objectives of strategy means that help is necessary in reaching those objectives. Much like the weak link of a chain, no strategy can be better than its successful tactical implementation.

When you consider your current role and responsibilities are you required to be more dedicated to the strategic or the tactical execution of the plan? What strengths do you employ to achieve those strategic or tactical goals?

To give you a better idea you can do this:

In the center pane of imapMyTeam.com  there is a report titled: Team Player Strengths. This report is a set of adjectives that will describe many of your specific individual strengths.

Run this report on yourself, and consider how those strengths help you contribute to executing the plan. Even if we have dominant strengths [diamond symbol] that are green or yellow there are some red and/or blue strengths in all of us.

Your personal lists of strengths may solidify you as more red, more blue, or maybe a bit of both.