"Execution" Dillema

I know, strategy and marketing blog should not talk about "DOING".. :D Pardon me, but "doing" has been a subject of some best seller books for years; i can not ignore any best selling opportunity. With finesse people often call it "execution". There are many books written on it, many lectures heard on it and then many people claim on it. Well, let us be clear, thinking has to happen in isolation so yes, it is fair for strategy to be formed in a closed box; thinker should not know what can not be done; thats precisely what he gets paid for. Then, how can a thinker assure that his strategy finally turns into an implementable task and shows some result on ground?? I am still struggling to find an answer on this and i am sure it is a learning that will end with life.. But i do feel all "IMPLEMENTATIONS" with excellent plans, in the end have to pass through the human mesh.. no one book can explain it, and nothing but for presence of mind, empathy, appreciation of point of views and sometimes willingness to call everyone's mistake as your mistake can help one wade through the human mesh.. But it takes a lot to rise above your own "human" self and cover all and that is where things fall apart..

Interestingly, as i think of this, i want to share where exactly did i encounter this first lesson of leadership on execution which i still struggle to bring in my personality.. It has been a fair life so far; from holding various responsible positions for which i never got paid, to some for which people are kind enough to pay (thank you by the way). My first observation was when i was made class prefect (only God knows why, i never shouted at anyone and i talked the most). Standing infront, i was supposed to handle what i could never handle for myself, "discipline all"; task was written off. The sea of faces of class mates who loved me otherwise, had it written all over their faces, "YOU ARE THE MOST HATED HUMAN".. That was my first real encounter to manage disparate expectations of people without changing them.. Suddenly, i was not a part of them?? I told myself, no i dont like it. I came back home and probably in my tiny head thought what is it worth? No one will talk to me, everyone will hate me, and above all I CANT TALK ANYMORE. I was not the class teacher, i did not have the cane ( i did not know how to use it anyway), no one will be scared of me, what can i do??

So, i started with defining "DISCIPLINE" in my mind; i was clear, talking and playing is not indiscipline as long as it does not impose same on others when they dont want to. Next day in class, i took this as a discussion with everyone asking them to tell me what did discipline mean to them?? (well, they all laughed and ignored and what followed for next 4 days is a history but in the end we got on one table).. Interestingly, everyone had a different definition, but in the end everyone somehow associated it with their "freedom". I asked, "what about other's freedom?".. And we all agreed that we can talk and play as long as we ensure that others do not get disturbed (difficult one, but they gave me the authority to tell them when their freedom bothered others).. This was to be sold to teacher, as the whole concept of "freedom" in school is what meant "no discipline" to her.. I remember how tough it was to explain anything to teachers (they lived by rule books).. She did not buy the idea, i could not shout (i cant you see), students did not stop talking and they did not fear punishment. I stood infront of the class and often could not resist talking myself.. According to me the leader "Teachers" for years in schooling system have been trying to implement impossible; on altar are some poor souls like me and the point of failure is -- there is no buy in , there is no appreciation of reality.. There is a "strategy to discipline" which can not defy the human mesh..

I realized (still a long way to internalize) that time that strategy has to restrict to definitions and rules to show the best way forward; which is fair.. To create an implementable strategy, ability to appreciate differences, understanding that humans are unique and there is self before all, no matter who you are dealing with ; is extremely important .. As an implementer of strategy, one's ability to negotiate, influence, create win win situation is what it probably takes to implement things on ground. . That is why probably smaller organizations grow fast, change fast; their human mesh is small.. When large organizations try to change, they fail for want of understanding and consensus.. Believe it or not, like school, like business.. :) there are still definitions that don’t work, leaders that stick to them, there are souls on altars who do not associate with rules and then the human mesh underneath has a life of its own.. hah! Life! From first lesson to nth and eternity may be..