#114: Execution: Creating a 'dialtone'

In an earlier blog, we talked about the expectation of a 'dialtone' and how that represents an unstated expectation of customers and stakeholders.

At the heart of it, strategy execution is all about creating a 'dialtone'. I.e., creating value in a consistent and predictable manner.

Whatever your profession, calling, initiative or project, you are working to create a dialtone. I.e. you start with a situation that is not understood, issues are possibly clouded by fallacies and urban legends. You work thru the issues one by one till you can evolve a repeatable process to deliver value in a consistent and predictable manner.

Your every effort builds upon experience and existing capabilities. Even new capabilities are created using existing capabilities. It follows that none of your efforts are truly one off (I am trying to think of examples of truly one off projects and failing). At the physical level, you can never create 'something out of nothing', though it reads very well in marketing literature and performance reviews.

What is needed is the ability to solving problems effortlessly and consistently, handling unexpected situations, and aligned to org strategy, vision and mission. Use friction and conflict to discover missing capabilities.