As the calendar approaches the second half of the calendar year, you and your management team stand at a pivotal juncture. The strategic plan is in place—the blueprint for growth, innovation, and market leadership. But how do you ensure that this plan doesn’t remain a document gathering digital dust? How do you transform it into tangible results that propel your organization forward? The answer lies in building good habits and fostering the right mindset within your team.

Establish Alignment
Before diving headlong into execution, gather your team to align their compasses toward your strategic North Star. Research has proven that alignment is the bedrock of successful execution. When your team understands how their work contributes to the bigger picture, they become more engaged and focused on execution.  Committing to a strategic plan ensures that all hands are on deck, rowing in the same direction.

Prepare to Pivot
It’s important to remember that strategies aren’t static – they evolve. As you navigate the twists and turns of the marketplace, keep the lines of communication open and be prepared to pivot when necessary. Foster team habits that acknowledge the inevitability of change while continuing to drive execution. These may include daily stand-up meetings, weekly plans, monthly reviews and quarterly resets.

Cultivate a Growth Mindset
The Midwest knows a thing or two about resilience. It’s the “land of cornfields that sway in the face of storms, only to rise again.” Your management team needs to embrace this same resilience. The ability to learn from our mistakes is critical. When the inevitable hiccups occur (and they will), don’t treat them as failures but steppingstones instead. Encourage your team to learn, adapt, and improve. This growth mindset activates the brain’s learning centers.

Be Bold and Innovate Fearlessly
A fixed mindset limits what’s possible. Break those mental blocks. Encourage bold ideas, experimentation, and calculated risks. When you believe in growth, innovation will flow through your organization.

Celebrate Progress
Take the time to acknowledge your wins, big AND small. The successful product launch, the flawless safety record, the cost-saving initiative – these often-overlooked milestones are the fuel that propels your strategy forward.

Monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Your strategy isn’t a ship adrift; it’s a vessel with a compass. Establish KPIs—those North Star metrics that guide you. Make them realistic and aligned with your strategic objectives. Be sure to regularly check your bearings. People need to know where they stand against their performance measures. Transparency breeds accountability.

With your team’s habits and mindset calibrated you’re ready to move forward with execution of the plan. As always, it will be critical to lead by example. Model the growth mindset; share stories of overcoming challenges; provide constructive feedback that encourages improvement. Your demonstrated authenticity inspires others to embrace change.

_ _ _ _

Andy Oliver is a Business Partner at Oak Hill Business Partners and has over 30 years of professional experience. He is a serial entrepreneur with a focus on Growth Strategies, Execution and Operations Improvement. Andy is also a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) and helps business owners navigate through maximizing the value of their business while preparing and executing an exit strategy.

Oak Hill Business Partners is a boutique management consulting firm serving middle market, closely held companies. Based in Milwaukee, Wis., our partners focus on helping growing companies become scalable by applying functional excellence in finance & administration, sales, marketing, and operations.  Oak Hill also helps company owners plan and execute transition/exit planning holistically. Oak Hill partners work with a team of advisors including wealth and legal advisors to help owners understand their options for transition in the business and execute the plan that meets their specific needs.