Simplicity and brevity are keys to effective execution
Effective strategy execution boils down to simplicity and brevity. Simplicity and brevity contribute to clarity, especially for larger organisations. It helps organisations stay focused on achieving their vision, mission and purpose.
Simplicity and brevity are about taking the complex and making it simple so that everyone in the organisation fully understands:
- Where they want to get to.
- Who their customers and stakeholders are.
- How and when they will get there.
“When the business landscape was simple, companies could afford to have complex strategies. But now that business is so complex, they need to simplify.” (Eisenhardt and Sull, 2001)
It is about taking a 200-odd slide deck and condensing it all into one page. Having a one-pager makes the corporate strategy so much easier to understand, communicate, and execute.
The 80/20 Pareto Principle helps explain the power of simplicity. The principle is alive and well in most businesses:
- 80% of profits come from 20% of customers.
- 80% of problems are generated by 20% of employees.
- 80% of sales are generated by 20% of salespeople.
Staying within this principle encourages clarity. It provides a digestible amount of information tackled by the least educated in the organisation. Information will not be read, understood, or listened to if it is not brief and succinct.
Condensing the corporate strategy to one-page forces the organisation to focus on what is critical. It forces the organisation to clarify its thoughts. It forces decisions as to what not to do. There is no more hiding behind words, PowerPoints, or politics.
The one-pager metaphor will remind everyone that simplicity and brevity are essential elements for effective communication at the operational levels. If things are not simple, there is increased potential for confusion, misunderstanding, and poor strategy execution and performance. There is a likelihood of misalignment of thought, actions, and ultimately leading to under-performance.