How to NOT Execute Your Strategy (and what to do about it)
by Tim Ohai
“…on average, 95% of a company’s employees are unaware of, or do not understand, its strategy” (From Harvard Business Review, October, 2005, by Robert S. Kaplan and David P. Norton) Which begs the question: If so many people are not following the actual strategy, what are they executing? The simple answer is that they are making up their own strategies. Or worse, they are undoing the original strategy. Come listen as we dive into the biggest lessons learned from the people who own strategic execution – the senior leaders who live in the center of it.
Episodes
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Change Management Is a Scam... Part 2
Most leaders say people resist change. That’s wrong. What people resist is confusion, broken execution, and strategies that were never ready to be launched. If execution is clear, resourced, and disciplined, engagement is not something you have to manage. It becomes the natural outcome. In this...
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Change Management Is a Scam... Part 1
Are you being gaslighted at work? Most “change management” programs are fixing the wrong problem. Leaders don’t have a change problem - they have an execution problem. And it’s not the team’s responsibility to fix that. Because when execution works… change is just something we do. In this special...
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Why Most Strategies Fail (And How to Fix It)
Will your strategy fail? Most strategies don’t fail in the boardroom. They fail in the handoff. Not because the strategy was flawed - but because the risks after the strategy launches are ignored. They show up in missed goals, confused teams, and wasted momentum. The good news? They’re all...
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Leadership Without Empowerment: What No One Tells You
Feeling the pressure… but not making progress? You’re not alone. Everywhere I go, leaders are stuck in the same pattern: Budgets are tighter Decision-making is slower Empowerment is shrinking And yet… the expectations haven’t changed. You’re still supposed to deliver. Still supposed to lead.…
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The Real Reason Leaders Plateau - and How to Break Through
Are you good... or GREAT? Most leaders hit a ceiling - not because they lack ambition, but because they ignore what actually drives execution. Watch this breakdown of what separates good leaders from great ones - especially when pressure hits. And see if YOU are great. In this special episode...
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The Real Reason Training Doesn't Work
Most corporate training is a WASTE. Not because employees are unwilling to learn… But because leaders are solving the wrong problem. The real issue? Execution is broken. And training can’t fix that. Here’s the good news: There is a better way. In this special episode pulled from his YouTube...
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Hustle Culture Will Destroy you
Grinding isn’t just unsustainable - it’s ineffective. And it’s killing real performance. Most leaders I know feel stuck in the grind. But few know how to escape it. In this special episode pulled from his YouTube channel, Author and Fortune 500 consultant Tim Ohai shares his insights on: Why…
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Are You an AI-Ready Leader?
AI is rewriting the rules for leadership - and we honestly aren’t prepared for it. From CEOs overhauling their operating models to AI outperforming entire functions, this isn’t just a tech trend - it’s a leadership reckoning. In this special episode pulled from his YouTube channel, Author and...
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How AI Will Affect You THIS Year
AI isn’t coming. It’s already here. And if you’re not engaging it aggressively, you’re falling behind. From CEOs restructuring entire operating models to AI replacing entire job categories, this isn’t just a tech shift. It’s a leadership reckoning. In this special episode pulled from his YouTube...
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How to Respond When Things Go Wrong
What do you do when the plan falls apart? In this episode of “How to NOT Execute Your Strategy,” the legendary author and executive advisor, Brent Adamson (ever heard of The Challenger Sale or The Challenger Customer?), unpacks a truth most leaders avoid: True leadership isn’t about having the...
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Strategy’s Silent Killer: The Poison in Your Deals
Are your negotiations undermining your strategy? Learn how to reverse the damage with a negotiation guru. In this episode of “How to NOT Execute Your Strategy”, billion-dollar negotiator and executive consultant, Steve Thompson, shares a special insight into one of the biggest threats to EVERY...
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Is Success Killing Your Business?
You’re leading… but are you asking the wrong questions? In this episode of “How to NOT Execute Your Strategy”, author and master consultant, Dave Brock, discusses how leadership strategies often become outdated due to complacency and being “successful enough.” Companies must challenge their…
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Why Your Sales Strategy Is Failing
Is your sales strategy going to fail this year? In this episode of “How to NOT Execute Your Strategy”, legendary sales enablement expert, Sheevaun Thatcher, reveals the three biggest mistakes that leaders make when trying to turn a sales strategy into actual business growth. Listen in on her…
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How to Fix Fake Leadership
Are you dealing with fake leaders? In this episode of “How to NOT Execute Your Strategy”, business leader, author, and award-winning podcaster, Larry Levine, shares the essential secrets to success that he has learned from his work with CEOs and other executives. If you follow either the “Selling...
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The Accountability Gap Exposed
Do you have both the authority AND accountability to succeed? In this episode of “How to NOT Execute Your Strategy”, Josh Andrews, former Head of Data and Analytics at Qvest, gets real about the dysfunctions leaders both fight against – and create. From executive power struggles to ego clashes,...
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How Good Leaders Become Bad
Have you ever worked for a leader whose personality went from great to toxic? In this special episode pulled from his YouTube channel, Fortune 500 executive coach and consultant Tim Ohai shares his insights on the key triggers that cause good leaders to become bad. Contact Tim directly at...
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How to Get the Most Out of Your Team
Have you been taught the wrong way to build a high-performing team? In this episode of “How to NOT Execute Your Strategy”, Ilias Simpson, president of Cart.com, we dove into not just the challenges he faced with a major strategy, but the unconventional best practices he discovered for building a...
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How to Push Fear AWAY from Your Strategy
How do you avoid the fear trap when your strategy is literally destroyed just as it launches? In this episode of “How to NOT Execute Your Strategy”, successful CEO, author, and podcast host, Damon Lembi, shares how a major strategic failure was transformed into a massive win. Instead of becoming...
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Are You Ready to Fail?
Are you prepared to fail? If not, you will never be able to fix a broken strategy in time. In this episode of “How to NOT Execute Your Strategy”, highly successful Fortune Global 500 executive and now executive consultant, Jim McCormick, humbly shares how he generated massive amounts of waste by...
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Special Bonus: The Most Popular Interviews
The analytics have been run and THESE are the most popular insights from 2 seasons of executive interviews. Which one do YOU need to hear right now? Contact Tim directly at https://calendly.com/kupusolutions-tim/1-1-meeting Bonus: Check out the strategic execution masterclass at...
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High Performance Prioritization: How to Avoid Killing Your Strategy
Prioritization is the Achilles’ heel of strategy, but too many leaders suck at selecting the right priorities. If you have ever felt the pressure that “EVERYTHING is a priority,” this episode is for you. In this special episode pulled from his YouTube channel, Fortune 500 executive coach and...
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How to Decide if You Should Quit
Should you quit or should you stay? It’s a question on everyone’s mind. In this special episode pulled from his YouTube channel, Fortune 500 executive coach and consultant Tim Ohai shares 5 questions that reveal if your company deserves your energy. Contact Tim directly at...
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The Dark Side of AI Coaching: What Leaders Need to Know
The idea of having an AI coach is gaining popularity - but is it really a smart idea to trust AI as your coach? In this special episode pulled from his YouTube channel, Fortune 500 executive coach and consultant Tim Ohai shares 3 tests you MUST use before you trust an AI coach. Contact Tim…
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Does Your Leadership Have THIS Cancer?
This one thing will wreck your business from the inside out - every time. In this special episode pulled from his YouTube channel, Fortune 500 executive coach Tim Ohai breaks down one of the biggest mistakes Walmart EVER made and how business leaders can see if they have the same leadership…
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STOP Trying to Fix Your Culture (and Do THIS Instead)
Culture gets WAY TOO MUCH emphasis these days. In fact, fixing culture is the WRONG thing to do. In this special episode pulled from his YouTube channel, Fortune 500 executive coach Tim Ohai shares three quick tests to determine what your culture REALLY is - and what to do about it. Bonus: Check...
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3 Signs of WEAK Leadership
The signs of weak leadership are really common, but RARELY discussed because everyone is looking for different signs. In this special episode pulled from his YouTube channel, Fortune 500 executive coach Tim Ohai shares his insights on how to identify if you have weak leadership - and if you are...
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STOP Saying "Do More with Less"!
“I am willing to bet that none of your executive leaders were taught how to execute the business strategy.” They learned through trial and error, mistake by mistake, and blunt force experience. And now, they expect you to learn it the same way. In this special episode pulled from his YouTube...
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2 Serious Mistakes that Leaders Make Over and Over Again
The global workplace data from Gallup is in… and it’s not good. Workplace engagement continues to drop out of control. 67% of North American workers are disengaged/actively disengaged. In Europe, that number surges to 88%! Why is this so? Because of these 2 serious mistakes that leaders make over...
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The ESSENTIAL Skill that Separates Great Leaders from Everyone Else
The secret to being a great leader is not simply about emotional intelligence and being a servant. Yes, those things matter, but many leaders struggle as they move into higher levels of authority because they lack one critical skill. In this special episode pulled from his YouTube channel, Tim...
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What Causes Your Stress? (And It's Not What You Think)
Is it possible to eliminate stress in your life? What is commonly being taught about managing stress simply doesn’t work. In this special episode pulled from his YouTube channel, Tim discovered a radical new approach to eliminating stress. Hear the best practice method that he uses with his...
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Feet Are More Powerful Than Words
Do your leaders struggle to execute strategy? In this brand new episode of “How to NOT Execute Your Strategy”, acclaimed executive, author, and speaker Peter Lynch shares how he failed miserably to get leaders to buy into his strategy and how he used his feet to get things back on track. Peter…
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What Happens If You DON'T Know Change Management (with Chris Hall)
How do you get your employees to consistently align – especially across 39 countries? In the latest episode of How to NOT Execute Your Strategy, I interviewed Chris Hall to learn how he got 95% of his entire organization (39 countries) to be aligned around the company strategy. Anyone who has…
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How sleep literally affects every decision you make (with Giles Watkins)
What does it take to be a leader no matter where you are in the world? In the latest episode of How to NOT Execute Your Strategy, I interviewed Giles Watkins to learn his best practices for navigating the complexities of international cultures while getting a key strategy to deliver results. He…
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Emilio Herrera: How to get your people to accept change
Dr. Emilio Herrera is the Chief Health Officer of Keralty, a leading multi-national health group that supports everything from health care provider education to local health clinics. Emilio has been integral to the creation and execution of their Comprehensive Health Model strategy that impacts…
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Craig Humphreys: How being the smartest person in the room can RUIN your team
Craig Humphreys is literally the most interesting person that Tim knows in the world. While he is currently the CEO of TransPac Systems and the co-founder and COO of Stygian HC, he is also: A former analyst for the CIA, earning a presidential citation for his efforts to end the Cold War Former...
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Towanna Burrous: How to know what is REALLY going on with your execution
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...
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Tom Pisello: How to manage the strategy of a visionary leader
Tom Pisello is a marketing guru, author, and serial entrepreneur, having launched and sold two successful businesses. He has just started his third business, Genius Drive, where he and his team help companies develop and successfully transform their value story into powerful customer engagements....
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Tim Ohai: Best practices for driving strategic execution
Tim Ohai is the Founder and Sr. Principal of Kupu Solutions. In this episode, he shares how to diagnose where your execution is breaking down and his best practices to immediately get it back on track. Get the leader guide for this episode here:...
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Season 1 Epilogue
This is a short bonus episode where I briefly explain the "why" behind this podcast.
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Daniel Todd: How culture can either be a chokehold or your bedrock
Daniel Todd is the Founder and CEO of Influence Mobile. In this episode, we explore how culture can either be the chokehold or the bedrock of your execution. Get the leader guide for this episode here: https://timohai.com/how-to-not-execute-your-strategy-s1e7-daniel-todd/
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Dane Groeneveld: How optimism can create stress and disruption
Dane Groeneveld is the Group CEO and Founding Partner of the Huddl3 Group. In this episode, we dive into how overly optimistic thinking creates stress and disruption. Get the leader guide for this episode here: https://timohai.com/how-to-not-execute-your-strategy-s1e6-dane-groeneveld/
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Lisa Love: Navigating the stress of being a startup
Lisa Love is the Co-founder and Co-CEO of Tanoshi. In this episode, we dive into the constant stress of being a startup and what it takes to adjust your execution to navigate it all. Get the leader guide for this episode here: https://timohai.com/how-to-not-execute-your-strategy-s1e5-lisa-love/
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George Brontén: How understanding your value chain determines success
George Brontén is the Founder and CEO of Membrain. In this episode, we explore how your strategy will fail if you don’t understand your entire value chain. Get the leader guide for this episode here: https://timohai.com/how-to-not-execute-your-strategy-s1e4-george-bronten/
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JD Stewart: Transforming a crumbling strategy into a highly successful pivot
JD Stewart is the Co-founder and CEO of Stygian HC. In this episode, we explore how to transform a crumbling strategy into a highly successful pivot. Get the leader guide for this episode here: https://timohai.com/how-to-not-execute-your-strategy-s1e3-jd-stewart/
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Martyn Lewis: Failure is an absolute essential
Martyn Lewis is the Founder and CEO of Market Partners. In this episode, we explore how failure is an absolute essential for successful execution. Get the leader guide for this episode here: https://timohai.com/how-to-not-execute-your-strategy-s1e2-martyn-lewis/
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Elaine Gravatte: Lessons learned from a failed business launch
Elaine Gravatte is the President of the Sense Colour business globally for Givaudan. In this episode, we dive into a failed business launch and how to make sure that your execution harnesses change management. Get the leader guide for this episode here:...
About this show
“…on average, 95% of a company’s employees are unaware of, or do not understand, its strategy”
(From Harvard Business Review, October, 2005, by Robert S. Kaplan and David P. Norton)
Which begs the question: If so many people are not following the actual strategy, what are they executing?
The simple answer is that they are making up their own strategies. Or worse, they are undoing the original strategy.
Come listen as we dive into the biggest lessons learned from the people who own strategic execution – the senior leaders who live in the center of it.
Hosted by
Tim Ohai
Categories