Almost all leaders are searching for solutions to the challenge of securing the execution of plans by their teams. Obviously, the execution of decisions and plans is the essence of every company’s performance. The challenges are numerous. First, plans need to be created. This is much easier said than done, since they need to address the most important issues and topics. Secondly, plans need to be comprehensive and accepted by the people who are supposed to execute them.Finally the plans need to be so clear and practical so that all necessary actions can be executed by the ones who are responsible. No matter in what kind of organization you are working, centralized or distributed, local or global, product supply or services, start-up or well established with a lot of experience, it still comes down to how to secure the decided plans.
Well, let us take a step back because that is where we at COD have learned that the real challenge lies. If you want plans that people like and want to execute you better need to build in their acceptance in the decision-making process. If you want people to understand and take actions to fulfil the plans, this needs to be included in the planning process.
Here is a simplified description of how COD supports execution of plans in all our clients’ organizations.
- By co-creating a common understanding of the situation either as a big picture or in a certain topic, you support all you team members to understand the context of the decision or plan.
- Involving everyone with their unique perspective in creating a description of desired state you open up to jointly describe the direction needed to solve the initial issue.
- Ask your people to name the questions that the team needs to solve to move towards desired state. Secure to take visible notes on for example a white board.
- Secure joint decision about the priority of questions to start working with, for example by a civilized discussion involving everyone present.
- Pick the first question, ask around the table for fact-based background information concerning the respective question.
- Formulate the question starting with “How…?” or “What…?” and ask your people to individually write their answers in their notepad.
- Listen carefully to each person’s first solution and take visible note. If suitable allow another round of suggestions.
- Repeat the joint decision process this time for the priority of solutions to start working with, for example by a civilized discussion involving everyone present.
- Ask for volunteers to take action points to be executed before the next team meeting.
- Secure your individual coaching to the action point owners.
By following this rather simple process which in reality needs practice and support to become easier to handle you will secure your teams acceptance and execution of the plans you need for future success.
Want to learn more about the COD methodology? Please connect with us by e-mail or Linkedin.