Execution....make it happen

Quoting Robin Sharma, as it is..., as I want to retain this thoughts for ever with me.

"Ideation without execution is delusion. The greatest idea in the world is useless without the discipline to make it happen. If you can't create tangible results around your idea then it's pointless. Great organizations and individuals make things happen. They do what they
will say they will do. Very simply, they are meticulous about accountability.

Being accountable means that you are committed. That you will achieve the results you promised. Too many people avoid being accountable by blaming circumstances. (Blaming others or circumstances is simply excusing yourself.) So much so, that execution and accountability are a competitive advantage. The Rare Ones are those that get things done and end up defining the marketspace.

Here are some tips on increasing the level of accountability in your life and your organization:

Action Items
Record who will do what and by when in your meetings. Review these action steps at the end of the meeting and include them in the minutes. Then, at the following meeting, review progress on the Action Steps by individuals.

30 Minutes or it's Free
One way to make yourself more accountable is to create consequences. Domino's Pizza used to offer free pizza if the delivery person didn't make it to your house in 30 minutes. What would you hold yourself to in order to be impeccably accountable? Frame it in terms of what your customer wants to make it truly meaningful.
Tell People
Sharing your goals and commitments to action with others is a powerful way to keep yourself accountable. Whether it's your client, a mentor, a friend or a loved one they will help you focus on execution when you tell them what you plan to do.
Ask why
Before committing to something ask yourself why you are doing it. If it isn't something critical then you may want to say no. Saying no to the unimportant helps you focus on the few things that are.

Reward Execution
When you do execute take a moment to congratulate yourself. Acknowledge that you have made the journey from idea to result. You may also want to tell some others as well. If you are a manager, then be diligent about observing and complimenting people on achieving their accountabilities.

Open Secret

In last couple of years would have read many articles, books...on the stuff of leadership, getting things done, execution, emotional intelligence, project management, lean thinking, process re-engineering, strategy, performance management, sales promotions, customer service, etc. At the end of reading one feels enlightened, improves thinking, provides different perspectives and insight.

But somewhere I was still searching ideas which are SIMPLE & EASY to understand and follow and provide LONGTERM behavioral change which results in improved personality, which is more effective.

 Based on observations over the years, and discussion with Some which can be followed easily by anyone, serious in growing professionally.

1. Perform the part of a colleague's job while he is on long leave.
2. Represent your team in a group doing work you know little about. If you come from the operations side of the business, find ways to interact with sales, procurement, human resources, legal, technology.
3. Accept the role of " Man Friday": volunteer to deal with the most dissatisfied customers or most difficult suppliers, take over troubled projects, or supervise cost-cutting initiatives.
4. Join a project team that is breaking new ground in your organization, for example, one that is launching a new product or installing a new IT system.
5. Start something new outside work--a new volunteer program for your child's school, or join a new professional network in your social networking site
6. Stepping forward to manage work with tight deadlines, pressure from above, high visibility, and responsibility for critical decisions increases your decisiveness and your ability to work and learn under pressure.
7. Volunteer to manage high-profile customers or business partners. You'll learn to deal with accountabilities from multiple directions--from your own organization and from external sources.
8. Always take up assignments that require you to collaborate across functions and business units or to work with people over whom you have no authority--such as customers, vendors, partners, unions, and regulatory agencies
9. Seek roles of Shared leadership sets up additional challenges around roles, authority, and expectations, as well as gives you a chance to experiment with your ideas and reinforce your beliefs.
10. Accept the role of executive assistant to the chairman, director, president for few years, preferably early in the career- will help in developing a holistic understanding of the business as well as developing visibility and relationship in the industry and organization.
11. Never miss an opportunity to meet with your customers and channel partners formally and informally and understand their motivations and,
12. Travel outside your workplace, visit other branches, offices, cities, develop an understanding for different markets, cultures, rituals, etiquettes
13. Seek out projects, task forces, and onetime events and activities that you can participate in for a short period of time - example business exhibitions, roadshows, product launches, market survey, shooting of ad films, development of advertisements
14. Seek challenges outside the workplace. Look for ways to develop your leadership capacity in nonprofit, religious, social, and professional organizations.
15. Spend time with your team members, colleagues, superiors in informal sessions, weekend picnics, Booz sessions, family outings, all this will help in understanding, and relating with them more meaningfully.
16. Seek out challenges in new industries or take up a position
17. Lastly, while doing all these don't lose focus on doing what you are getting paid for.

Above is neither complete nor comprehensive list, one can include, exclude beliefs which he feels are right in order to get his recipe of success

I would like to end, this midnight blog by quoting Calvin Coolidge

"Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.
Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with
talent.
Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.
Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.
The slogan 'press on' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race"

Sorry, no shortcuts in Life,

Ravi Kingrani