A question that I am frequently asked is “What is the biggest challenge that today’s leaders are addressing?” My answer is simple, IMPLEMENTATION. Almost every person that I coach begins the coaching process with something like the following:

• We’re stuck! We’ve had great planning meetings, but nothing is happening.
• We’ve overcome tremendous hurdles and made some great decisions, but nothing has really changed.
• Our agenda and action items are the same month after month after month.
• I’m a big-picture person. I don’t seem to know how to move people forward.

The challenge for many of today’s leaders is the issue of implementation. IE. Shifting from intention to action. Getting things done. Consistently achieving clearly defined objectives. Maintaining forward momentum.

John C. Maxwell, in “Leadership: Promises for Every Day”, addresses this when he identifies two areas of leadership emphasis: Designer (Thinking it up) and Developer (Following it up). Stanford researchers Jeffrey Pfeffer and Robert Sutton call the implementation challenge the Knowing-Doing Gap and pose the following question: Why does knowledge of what needs to be done frequently fail to result in action or behavior consistent with that knowledge?

What are steps that you can take to close the KNOWING-DOING Gap:

• Phase the Vision: Clearly define the vision and then break it down into phases (smaller, manageable segments). Then, while holding the larger vision, work toward phase one, then phase two, etc. For example, if your vision is to win the Super Bowl in football, the phases could include: recruitment and retention, pre-season practice and games, the actual season and then the playoffs.
• Define Completion: This isn’t rocket science, but we seem to miss this one! Completion is not: a decision or a vote in favor of the idea, designating money toward the project, placing a copy of the vision and mission statements in strategic locations throughout the building or a one-time presentation on the new vision. Completion is all of this AND SO MUCH MORE! Using the above example of the Super Bowl, completion is winning the big game, including a Super Bowl ring, trophy and a trip to Disney World.
• Commit to NEXT: For many leaders the issue is not identifying the next action step, but committing to the next action step. This is where coaching adds tremendous value. Coaching is about action and accountability for the agreed upon action. Every coaching session includes:
  
  1. What did you accomplish?
  2. What didn’t you accomplish that you said you would?
  3. What got in the way?
  4. What’s next?
  
  
• Cut Back: The resources for one of the Coach University classes I lead suggests that an individual can eliminate, delegate or simplify at least 50% of what he or she is currently doing. Yes, 50%! Imagine the impact on your professional performance and your personal life if you were doing 50% less:
  
  1. time to think and dream
  2. clearer thinking and better decisions
  3. time to listen
  4. well rested
  5. less stress
  6. healthier body

Imagine the difference that would result from closing the Knowing-Doing Gap. What specific steps will you take? Though challenging, this shift can and must happen.