How to know what is REALLY going on with your execution…

by | Mar 25, 2024 | Leadership, Podcast Leader Guide, Strategic Execution

How to NOT Execute Your Strategy (S2E3): Towanna Burrous

Dr. Towanna Burrous is the founder and president of the CoachDiversity Institute, an executive coaching and development firm that teaches leaders how to master the power of differences. Under Towanna’s leadership, CDI has exploded in growth – reaching the Fortune 5000’s fastest growing companies list in 2021. In this episode, Towanna shares the lessons she has learned about how information flow can make the difference between high performing teams and teams that generate waste.

Three key concepts:

  1. Identifying gaps in your people dependencies will dramatically impact the amount of time you have to execute. If you don’t address people gaps, you will create time gaps.
  2. Give your leaders access to what you are thinking so that they can listen for challenges to your thinking; this eliminates the limitation of you being the only person who can identify challenges.
  3. Suspending judgement and being vulnerable will make you the kind of leader who is assured of getting the information that you will need to make great decisions. Do not allow the need to be right become larger than the decision that needs to be made; The moment that you are not willing to be wrong is the moment that people will stop sharing what they really think with you.

BONUS – Leader guide: Use the following questions for (a) self-reflection as a leader and/or (b) a great discussion with your team.

1) Listen to the full episode before this discussion.
2) Why do you think it’s so hard for senior leaders to get access to what the front lines are thinking and doing?
3) In 10 words or less, define why it is important for leaders to get information that isn’t being overly filtered for them. Share your answers.
4) What are the key attributes of a leader who can get access to the right information in a timely way?
5) Which of the elements defined above – if any – are most critical to how we personally ensure the flow of information? Why?
6) Looking at our efforts now, what should we be doing to ensure that all of our leaders have timely access to the right information – even if it challenges what they are thinking?
7) Option: Take time right now to define exactly what that looks like (the outcome(s), metrics, and requirements).

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with at least one person. And leave me a review on whatever platform you engaged this podcast. Your feedback is invaluable to me.

Holomua. Onward and upward.

All the best ~ Tim

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