“Companies excel at crafting compelling visions but stumble when translating those visions into action” Russell Reynolds Associates
That sentence captures a harsh reality: great strategies don’t fail for lack of ambition — they fail for lack of leadership that can activate them!
🚧 Key Insights:
- Execution is the Achilles’ heel. Too many organizations are brilliant at “why” & “what,” but weak on the “how.” The gap between planning & doing undermines even the clearest strategic intent
- Only 47% of CEOs proactively anticipate change & plan transformation with long-term intent
- The bridge between vision & reality is often left to chance
- Structure, systems & culture must evolve in tandem
- Strategy should dictate the architecture—not the other way. Legacy structures, misaligned incentives, & siloed decision-making become drag anchors when bold ambitions meet old habits
- The missing link: combining strategic self-awareness with leadership team alignment and cohesion
- Strategy doesn’t execute itself. You need leaders who can translate big ideas into meaningful actions, foster cross-functional alignment, & keep momentum when the going gets tough
- Learning & adaptation are non-negotiable. Execution should generate feedback loops. Strategy must be refined dynamically based on what’s working — or failing — in real time
🧩 What to Do Now (for CEOs / Leadership Teams)
- Audit your existing leadership team: Do your leaders think & act strategically — not just operationally?
- Restructure for agility: Reduce handoff points, incentivize cross-functional performance, streamline decision flows
- Seed cultural change from the top: Leaders must show what strategic behavior looks like in everyday decisions. Culture isn’t peripheral — it’s how strategy lives or dies 💀
- Design strategic feedback loops: Execution isn’t linear. Embed mechanisms to monitor, learn, course-correct — do not just track milestones
- Think of embarking on a leadership team journey that gives you all of the above, & enables your team to perform at a higher level, more frequently
📣 Some of the world’s most admired companies have hired me to work with them utilising my bespoke Leadership Team Journey™ process: Nestlé, Unilever, Sobi - Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (publ), CCLA Investment Management, Novo Nordisk, Cobel Group® just to name a few…
But don’t take my word for it. Take it from a recent Leadership Team Journey client of mine (CEO + ExCo):
“Navid’s systematic approach and deep understanding of the executive leadership team development allowed him to tailor his support precisely to our specific situation and needs. I would highly recommend Navid to any executive leadership team looking to enhance their leadership skills and drive organizational success.“
About Navid Nazemian
Ranked as the world’s #1 Executive Coach by CEO Today for the 3rd year running, I use interventions that are designed to overcome obstacles quickly. Over the last 2 decades, I have helped hundreds of executives successfully eliminate unproductive thinking and solve their toughest, most complex challenges. In return, they have supported their organisations to build world-class cultures primed to create new markets, accelerate performance, increase productivity, and develop game-changing value propositions. 5 more ways to connect with me and my work:
- For more articles, tips, and insights, connect with me on LinkedIn
- Make sure you never miss an issue of my Newsletter by hitting the "Subscribe" button
- Ring the bell on my LinkedIn profile to be notified every time I share my top tips
- Reach out to me directly at hello@masteringexecutivetransitions.com if you have a need for coaching, keynote speaking or would like to place a bulk book order for your leaders
- Buy my international best-selling book ‚Mastering Executive Transitions: The Definitive Guide‘
Marshall Goldsmith says it‘s „The ultimate guide to executive transitions to help leaders achieve their highest potential.“
Prof. Dave Ulrich names it „The compendium book on transitions, a critical topic in these days of uncertainty & change.“
Dr. Hannes Ametsreiter says it „provides brilliant insights on what makes successful careers.“
What's Next? Stay tuned for upcoming newsletter editions where I'll be sharing fresh and actionable insights about the world of leadership. I really would love for you to join this conversation! Do let me know what you make of this newsletter edition.
Warm wishes,
Navid
