I’ve had the chance to lead hundreds of people in my corporate career.
In various contexts. Different countries, cultures, languages.
One common thread. Day-to-day business is frantic. It’s like a hurricane sweeping everything away in its path. So often, I’d hear:
“With everything that’s happened, I haven’t had time to make progress on our priority project.”
And yet, some colleagues, facing the same deluge, manage week after week to deliver on the essentials.
Not hard to guess who will catch the next promotions.
The difference?
It’s not the number of hours, the quality of the plans, the intelligence.
It’s distinguishing the essential and the discipline to execute it despite constant operational urgencies.
The good news.
This quality can be learned and is a real career accelerator. As a coach to senior executives and aspiring C-Levels, I have identified four essential pillars for transforming your intentions into concrete results.
Four pillars to becoming a master of execution
1. Absolute prioritization of results
The concept:
Identify important results and direct energy towards what has the most impact. Focus on tangible and measurable improvements by effectively managing time, tasks, and resources.
Tool :
- Break down your annual targets into quarters.
- List tasks at the beginning of each week.
- Classify tasks by urgency and importance.
- Evaluate their direct contribution to the 2-3 key quarterly results.
- Prioritize actions that directly feed into these major results, even if they seem less urgent.
- Block “Results Focus” slots in the agenda for these high-value-added activities.
Question:
Which 20% of activities will generate 80% of the results I’m aiming for this week?
2. Controlling execution: Full accountability
The concept:
Responsibility means taking full ownership of results (successes and failures), without excuses or blame. It means recognizing your central role in your performance, where every result is a lesson and an opportunity for improvement.
Tool:
Keep an “Accountability and Action Journal”. At the end of each day, write down :
- A significant result (positive or negative) of the day.
- My direct contribution to this result (actions, decisions, inactions).
- If the result isn’t what I expected: What’s THE one thing I’ll do differently tomorrow to correct or improve? (No blame, just corrective action).
- If the result is positive: What is THE thing I did that contributed to this success and that I need to reinforce?
Questions :
- What was my contribution to this result?
- How much of this problem is the result of my own reactions?
- What lessons can I learn to act more effectively next time?
3. Effective execution: translating strategy into action
The concept:
Having a brilliant strategy is useless if it’s not executed brilliantly. Effective execution is the ability to translate strategic intent into concrete actions and carry them out.
Tool:
For aligned and powerful personal execution, use Marshall Goldsmith’s “Triple A”:
- Aspiration: Define who you want to become. What is your “life mission”? Name your heroes and identify the virtues that fascinate you in them. Your answers may reveal your deepest aspiration.
- Ambitions: Clarify your concrete objectives. Break down your aspiration into ambitions: what do you want to achieve this quarter? Limit yourself to 3 key ambitions to stay focused.
- Actions: Identify the precise next steps and daily behaviors needed to move forward towards your aspirations and ambitions. These are your action priorities. Track your efforts daily (not just results) by asking yourself active questions like: “Did I do my best to…? ”.
According to Marshall Goldsmith, the secret to a life filled with happiness and meaning is to successfully combine these three elements: Aspiration, Ambition and Action.
Questions :
- Is my aspiration clear?
- Are my ambitions aligned?
- What concrete Actions do I need to take today to honor my Aspiration and achieve my Ambitions?
4. Mastering execution: taking action, the engine of change
The concept:
This is the ultimate principle: nothing happens without action. Knowledge, planning and strategy are essential, but they remain sterile if they are not followed by concrete implementation. Action is the bridge between your ambitions and reality.
Tool:
Use the extended “2-Minute Rule.” For any task or initiative that seems daunting or that you’re procrastinating on:
- Identify the very first physical action you can do in 2 minutes or less to get it started (e.g. open the document, write the first sentence of an email, call to make an appointment).
- Do it immediately.
- Then commit to a 25-minute block of work(Pomodoro technique) on that task, focusing only on progress, not perfection.
Question:
- What is the smallest action I can take NOW to advance my most important goal?
- What would it cost me to do nothing?
Conclusion: Become the architect of your results
“Getting the job done is not a matter of luck, but of discipline, method and mindset. By integrating these four pillars – prioritizing results, taking full responsibility, executing effectively and taking action – you won’t just hope for success: you’ll build it, day by day.
Ready to take your business to the next level?
If you’re an ambitious leader, aspiring or already in the C-Suite, and you’d like to sharpen your ability to achieve outstanding results, I offer personalized coaching. Together, we can turn your challenges into victories. Contact me for a confidential initial discussion.
See you soon,
Dror
In the same series :
- Part I: How to apply “Start with the End in Mind” to accelerate your career: A 12-week guide
- Part Two: Active listening: the key skill for accelerating your career advancement (and how to develop it)
- Part Three: How to develop your employees’ potential: the ultimate guide for leaders
- Part Four: How to accelerate your career by mastering uncertainty
- Part Five: 4 essential self-reflection tools for developing your leadership skills
- Part Six: Assuming your mistakes: 4 concepts for turning setbacks into career levers
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PS: Whenever you’re ready, here are 2 more ways I can help you accelerate your career through coaching:
For aspiring executives:
Accelerate your ascent to an executive position: I help you create your global vision and develop a plan to accelerate your journey. Contact me and let’s find out if we can work together.
For current executives :
Increase your impact as a leader: You know that even small improvements at your level can generate significant organizational results and career acceleration. I’ll work with you on your project and guarantee the results. Contact me and let’s see if we can work together.
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