Pub. 5 2015-2016 Issue 5

O V E R A C E N T U R Y : B U I L D I N G B E T T E R B A N K S - H E L P I N G C O L O R A D A N S R E A L I Z E D R E A M S March • April 2016 15 ceed and thrive over time, strategy and execution must become two parts of the same whole, working synergistically together to create sense out of an ever-changing environment and drive desired results. Strategy should be a simple and straightforward means for an organization to move towards its vision without stifling top- down management. Execution, on the other hand, must have the discipline and rigor to implement strategy effectively, but flexible enough to probe the strategic environment, make sense of how external and internal forces are reacting to, supporting or hindering the strategy, and adapt accordingly to achieve the overall vision and intent. Both must interact with and inform each other to allow for progress without curbing initiative or dogmatically following a failing plan. As a jumpstart for your new understanding, implementation and leadership of a highly effective strategy-to-execution mind- set in your organization, we offer the following five actions you can act on immediately. Taken from Harvard Business Review {Leinwand 2015}, these actions will begin to bring your strat- egy Yin and execution Yang into balance while building a solid leadership environment: 1. COMMIT TO AN IDENTITY: Find your focus and your vision for your organization and commit to it; 2. TRANSLATE THE STRATEGIC INTO THE EVERY- DAY: Be in both the execution dance on the floor while watching the ball from the balcony to see strategic pat- terns developing over time; 3. PUT YOUR CULTURE TO WORK: Understand its strengths and weaknesses and find ways to improve weaknesses while capitalizing on strengths; 4. ORGANIZATIONAL FRICTION HAS A HIGH COST: Friction is produced by ineffective and inefficient as- pects of your organization that do not contribute to your overall objectives. Reduce organizational “friction” to a minimum. 5. SHAPE YOUR FUTURE: Begin building your future today by investing in your up and coming leaders while developing your current leaders.  Colman & Company, a national corporate coaching and training firm based in Denver, helps bankers consistently deliver the best bottom line results. Our lifelong focus is on the psychology of human performance and it’s impact on business results. Proving the ROI data demonstrating the value of coaching, Colman & Company increases shareholder value and facilitates meaningful outcomes for their organizations and employees. The highly regarded Bank Leaders of Tomorrow program testifies to the enduring quality of services that Colman & Company provides. Our focus is on the psychology of human performance, and we deliver programs for Emerging Leaders, Senior Leaders, Building Effective Teams, Public Speaking, and Sales Training.