When Strategy and Execution Fall Out of Sync

HBR
HBR
1m ago
Leaders can reduce strategy-execution misalignment during change by strengthening coordination, clarifying expectations, and supporting sustained delivery momentum.
When Strategy and Execution Fall Out of Sync

Key insights

  • 1

    Misalignment is most likely during major transitions: Strategy-execution gaps are especially common when organizations pivot, scale, or rebuild.

  • 2

    Operational symptoms show up in people and performance metrics: The excerpt cites rising attrition, declining revenue, and missed goals as common signs of misalignment.

  • 3

    Communication can increase while understanding decreases: Strategists and executors may talk more but feel less understood due to unrealistic expectations and pushback.

A What happened
Misalignment between strategy and execution is described as a common problem, especially at inflection points when organizations pivot, scale, or rebuild. The excerpt lists typical symptoms: rising attrition, declining revenue, missed goals, and a widening disconnect between those who set direction and those who deliver work. It also describes a pattern of conflict where strategists demand answers and executors resist what they see as unrealistic expectations, creating a situation where communication increases but mutual understanding decreases. ’s core recommendation is that leaders should strengthen the connection between vision and delivery by creating systems that support coordination, clarifying expectations, and enabling teams to carry work forward without losing momentum during change.

Topics

Work & Education Careers & Work Business & Markets Strategy Management Leadership

Read the full article on HBR

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