Why can’t companies execute?
There are countless examples of companies that have great ideas but fail to execute them effectively. In some cases, they may be unable to launch products on time or budget, struggle to scale their business, or simply fail to meet customer needs. But why do so many companies struggle to execute, despite having the necessary resources and talent?
There are countless examples of companies that have great ideas but fail to execute them effectively.
In some cases, they may be unable to launch products on time or budget, struggle to scale their business, or simply fail to meet customer needs. But why do so many companies struggle to execute, despite having the necessary resources and talent? In this article, we will explore some of the reasons why companies can't execute and what they can do to overcome these obstacles.
1. Lack of clarity and focus: One of the biggest reasons companies fail to execute is a lack of clarity and focus. They may have too many projects, initiatives, or goals, making it difficult to prioritise and allocate resources effectively. Without a clear direction, employees may become overwhelmed, confused, or disengaged, leading to delays, mistakes, or even failure.
Solution: To overcome this issue, companies should focus on developing a clear and concise strategy that aligns with their vision, mission, and values. They should identify their most critical objectives, break them down into smaller, manageable tasks, and communicate them to their teams regularly.
By setting clear priorities and expectations, employees can stay motivated and aligned with the company's goals.
2. Ineffective leadership: Another common reason companies struggle to execute is ineffective leadership. Leaders may lack the necessary skills, experience, or vision to lead their teams effectively. They may also fail to communicate effectively, delegate tasks, or provide the necessary resources and support..
Solution: Companies should invest in leadership development programs to ensure that their leaders have the necessary skills and knowledge to lead effectively.
Leaders should also communicate clearly, provide feedback and recognition, and empower their teams to take ownership of their work. By building trust and fostering a culture of accountability, leaders can create a more productive and motivated workforce.
3 Poor project management: Poor project management is another common reason companies struggle to execute. Projects may be poorly planned, executed, or monitored, leading to delays, cost overruns, or quality issues.
Without proper project management, teams may lack direction, focus, or accountability, making it difficult to achieve their goals.
Solution: Companies should invest in project management tools and processes to ensure that projects are planned, executed, and monitored effectively. They should establish clear timelines, budgets, and deliverables, assign clear roles and responsibilities, and communicate progress regularly. By providing a structured and transparent approach to project management, teams can stay focused and accountable, leading to better outcomes.
1. Resistance to change: Resistance to change is another reason why companies struggle to execute. Employees may be resistant to new processes, technologies, or strategies, making it difficult to implement changes effectively. Without buy-in from their employees, companies may face resistance, pushback, or even sabotage.
Solution: Companies should involve their employees in the change process, communicate the reasons for change, and provide the necessary training and support. They should also celebrate successes and recognise the contributions of their employees. By fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement, companies can overcome resistance to change and execute more effectively.
In conclusion, companies can't execute for a variety of reasons, including a lack of clarity and focus, ineffective leadership, poor project management, and resistance to change.
By addressing these issues, companies can improve their execution and achieve their goals more effectively. By investing in their employees, processes, and tools, companies can build a more productive, motivated, and successful workforce.
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Do you have to enjoy work?
It’s been an area of conversation at the moment. Many of my friends don’t like their jobs, however they are not leaving
They don’t want to change, risk in changing jobs and what would they do – unsure what would make them happy.
It’s been an area of conversation at the moment. Many of my friends don’t like their jobs, however they are not leaving…
They don’t want to change, risk in changing jobs and what would they do – unsure what would make them happy.
I know that I am a bit strange, I really enjoy work. Yes there are days I don’t enjoy or periods of my career I haven’t enjoyed however overall I love working. It gives me energy, joy and I love to learn. I love interacting with people and helping businesses. I really enjoy the variety of consulting - different businesses, industries and different work. Ability to manage my own hours and workload etc and get to work with a great team.
However, I am surprised the number of people that;
• Don’t enjoy work
• Won’t move because hate change or
• Don’t know what to do
• Happy with pay and don’t want to get pay cut
I always say that there are aspects of everyone job they don’t enjoy – let’s say 20% max. But you need to live with this – and that’s normal but you need to enjoy the rest.
If you are not happy going to work every day, how long do you stay stuck in this role? Life is short. With perspective being miserable at work is not good for the quality of your life and you need to think about what you enjoy and what you want to get from your work and then make a plan.
You spend a lot of time at work, so if you don’t enjoy it that is a big chunk of your life that you don’t like. It flows through other elements of your work.
• Be honest on what is going to make you happy
• Do you need to make a change?
• Is the organisation you work for have other roles you can do?
• What makes you happy?
• What are your 3 non negotiables for a new role?
Be bold, brave and be clear with yourself on what you want and then go and get it.
Appreciate you need financials to pay your bills, but working in a job that makes you miserable is not a good use of your time and energy and finding that right role, will make you so much happier, you will wish you had done this earlier.
I always encourage my employees to look for a new job, if they are not happy. Seriously, then people find a new job and they are back to being themselves and happy.
If you are miserable, why?
• Do you need to change your job?
• Why not now?
• What are your 3 non negotiables.
Examples of non negotiables
• $xxxk annual salary
• Learning opportunity
• Certain industry
• Certain level
• Great boss / leader
• Small size company
• Large size company
Do you have any other non- negotiables?
Be honest with yourself about what you want from life and then pursue it wholeheartedly.
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What has covid taught me about working effectively
Time management has become more complex today and we must adapt to the changing environment.
Hybrid working – we need some help right?
• Video calls for 89 hours a day!
• Spend min 30 mins on each video call, that could have been a quick 5-10 min conversation.
Time management has become more complex today and we must adapt to the changing environment.
Hybrid working – we need some help right?
• Video calls for 89 hours a day!
• Spend min 30 mins on each video call, that could have been a quick 5-10 min conversation.
No longer phone calls that are 5 mins.
• You try and do video calls and do your emails or work, so don’t do a good job at anything.
• Group calls, easy to be distracted with emails and other work, projects to deliver change. But then you get to delivery, things fail.
It’s true that:
• Having back-to-back meetings, is not productive.
• You disengage in video calls when they are on all day back-to-back.
• You miss the social of work (if you are extravert).
• It’s hard to get work done.
So what does this all mean:
• Being very clear on your 34 priorities for the week and then broken down by days
• Having times blocked out to do work, real work is important. Whatever works for you – morning 34 hours or afternoon 34 hours.
• Email reading only twice per day, people will call if urgent.
• Turn off notifications so you can focus on the priorities.
You need to get back to basics:
• Being clear on your priorities (34 per week)
• Time block time to get work done
• Don’t do any more than 3 video calls per day
• Call someone for 5 min thing, not video call or too many emails
Being productive at work, means that you can maximise time for other things and feel engaged at work, because you can achieve goals. Understanding and aligning on your priorities is critical to ensure that you know what success looks like.
I’m not perfect, but always trying to find better way to improve my effectiveness at work, some days I win and others not so much!
If you want to read more articles by Jo Hands, please see Whiteark Thought Leadership
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Article by Jo Hands, Whiteark Founder
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As a business owner or manager, it can be difficult to know whether a particular issue is related to capability or capacity.
In general, CAPABILITY refers to the skills and knowledge needed to perform a task, while CAPACITY refers to the available resources (time, staff, equipment, etc.) to complete the task.