5 Easy Steps to Bring a Strategy to Life

​Many organisations have been unable to turn their strategies into action mostly because they start with the wrong strategy or they get caught up in a model that no longer works. Compelling visions that cannot be seen or believed by others remain only in the mind. This is why organisations must understand how to bring a strategy to life. While it may sound like a really difficult thing to do, there are five simple ways that businesses can do that:

1. Writing it down - The only way a strategy can come to life is if it is put on paper. A strategy should be put on a single piece of paper which will then serve as a strategic framework for the operation of all leaders and employees. When you write it down, it no longer remains an exciting vision in your head but you can actually get others to see it, read it and be convinced about it. Writing down a strategy is the first step to bringing a strategy to life.
2. Sharing it - There is no use in keeping a strategy to yourself. It sounds obvious, but you need to effectively share the strategic framework to ensure that your leaders are aligned. Better yet, give your employees and leaders a chance to build the strategy with you in the first place, so they can understand the context and have co-created the direction. They will therefore also be better placed to make the strategy relevant for their different teams. Everyone in your organisation should be aware of your strategy,  and be engaged in crafting it in a way that is relevant to them, so they can feel a sense of ownership for the outcome.
3. Using it consistently -  Consistency creates familiarity. You should use your strategic framework consistently in your communications with employees so that it they become familiar with it. They should be able to see what is happening and how it ties to the strategy. The importance of the strategic framework will only become important when they see and hear it from multiple sources.
4. Updating and communicating -  There is no way that your thinking at the beginning of the year will remain the same at the end of the year. In the course of time, you have new ideas that you would want to incorporate in your strategic framework. As such, update your framework as your thinking evolves. Communicate with your employees on a regular basis so that they are in the loop and understand the reasons behind your decisions.
5. Celebrating - Celebrating wins has a way of encouraging and creating a positive momentum. Always connect back to and reinforce the core elements of the strategy even as you celebrate your wins

Collagis is committed to helping businesses like yours to optimise workforce and organisational effectiveness. We'd love to hear from you to share how we can help you build clear and effective strategies for your business and enable effective execution. Contact us today at [email protected]