The Intersection of Strategy and Execution
Intro
Early in my career, a manager told me to “Stay in your lane.” This direct comment taught me a valuable lesson about the importance of trusting others with their work and not trying to do everything myself. As a self-proclaimed “do-er” and “go-getter,” I initially relied on my ability to understand the mechanics behind various outcomes, developing strategic thinking to improve situations. Recognizing that execution excellence was essential, I took on roles as an individual contributor to uphold high standards of delivery. However, as I grew into roles as a people manager, coach, mentor, consultant, and advisor, I focused on being a servant leader, ensuring my team had what they needed to achieve their goals and perform their best.
My perspective on combining strategy and execution excellence stems from these experiences. Allowing your team the freedom to own their work yields significant impacts and boosts morale. When businesses seek a marketer, they may look for someone with a strategic approach or someone who can get the work done. These qualities don’t need to be mutually exclusive. Strategy and execution are interdependent and symbiotic, relying on each other to deliver impactful results.
Small Businesses Often Don’t Have the Budget for a Full Marketing Team
No one can be a subject matter expert in all areas of marketing. With disciplines spanning digital marketing, brand marketing, product marketing, market research, communications, CRM marketing, and social media marketing, it’s unrealistic for one person to excel in all these areas. However, small businesses can succeed by having a dedicated Chief Marketing Officer (or Fractional CMO) who balances strategic understanding and practical execution.
Top Strengths
Using myself as an example, my top 5 CliftonStrengths are Arranger, Achiever, Learner, Relator, and Futuristic. These strengths illustrate the blend of strategy and execution in my work style.
Arranger
I excel in organization. Challenges often come with little guidance, and I thrive in figuring out how all the puzzle pieces fit together to achieve goals efficiently. As an Arranger, I organize projects and initiatives logically and effectively, ensuring smooth progress. Not everyone can be an Arranger; some find it mundane to seek resources or analyze data, but I find joy in laying the foundation for optimal performance.
Achiever
My work ethic drives me to be busy and productive constantly. Achieving goals, big or small, brings me immense satisfaction. While this trait is a strength, it's also essential to balance it with living in the moment for your mental health, especially as a mother of two daughters!
Learner
From an early age, I had a love for reading and math, inspiring me to learn continuously. My passion for learning guided me through my career and into marketing consultancy, where I dive into new areas like entrepreneurship and emerging technologies.
Relator
As an introvert, I value close relationships and thrive in working closely with clients, colleagues, and friends to achieve goals. This flexibility between my introverted and Relator sides enhances my empathy and builds trust with partners and stakeholders.
Futuristic
I am inspired by the future and what could be. I energize others with my visions, painting a picture of a better product, team, life, or world. This vision motivates me and others to strive for excellence.
Conclusion
Each of these strengths intersects with strategy and execution. A Futuristic strategic leader sets the vision, an Arranger organizes for optimal execution, an Achiever drives progress, a Relator adjusts to improve outcomes, and a Learner finds solutions. These traits are not separate individuals but a composite of my approach. Marketers like myself guide businesses strategically while increasing revenue, enabling the growth of specialized marketing teams. Learn more about how I can be your Fractional CMO, Advisor, or Consultant, combining strategy and practical execution for maximum return.
