When explaining your strategy implementation, project plan, or OKRs, it is crucial that stakeholders understand what the final destination will look like. A clear vision ensures alignment and commitment to the journey ahead.
A Real-World Experience
Years ago, I ed a company as a Senior Project Manager. My first task? Analyzing a report produced by EY (Ernst & Young) six months prior. At that time, project management was still a new concept within the company, and no PMO (Project Management Office) had been established yet.
The company’s main concerns were:
- No structured project management process
- Inconsistent quality of project managers
- Unclear execution strategy
They asked, “Can you help?”
I reviewed the EY report, which thoroughly analyzed the challenges in process, people, and technology. I asked my manager, “Did this report highlight all the issues with project management?”
“Yes, it did,” he confirmed.
“So, what actions have been taken in the six months since the report?” I asked.
His response: “Well, fixing the problem would take a lot of time and effort, and we don’t know where to start.”
The Missing Execution Plan
I then asked, “If EY did an assessment, didn’t they also provide an execution plan?”
“Yes, they did.”
“Show me.”
I reviewed Part 2: The Solution.
To my surprise, the solution section merely reiterated the problem and provided a high-level fix without actionable steps. Even worse, the cost of implementation was astronomical.
The company had essentially been left at ground zero, paralyzed by the sheer scale of the solution and its associated cost.
Breaking the Problem Down
Instead of conducting another assessment, I asked, “Has the situation changed since six months ago?”
“No.”
“Then let’s use the existing solution.”
I immediately:
- Prioritized the issues listed in the assessment document.
- Gained consensus on whether the priority order was accurate.
- Converted EY’s high-level action plan into a detailed, step-by-step project plan.
- Focused on fixing the most critical yet easiest issue first.
At that time, agile project management and OKRs were not widely implemented. However, I instinctively applied an incremental execution strategy:
- One project plan per issue
- Bite-sized implementations
- Iterative execution
Within a year, I successfully executed the entire EY-proposed solution—something the client had been unable to act upon for six months.
Why Consultants Fail to Close Solutions
Why didn’t EY close Part 2: The Solution?
In my opinion, they made a crucial mistake—they threw the entire “mothership” solution at the client, asking them to pay a massive sum upfront and fix everything at once.
The client, despite being a large company with ample resources, saw only one thing: the astronomical cost. They failed to see the direct benefits they would gain.
The Power of Painting a Picture
Over the years, I’ve learned a vital skill—painting a picture.
Even if you’re not in sales, you need to clearly illustrate the journey and the benefits. Where are we going? What will success look like? Why is this the best path?
A creative writing course I once took proved invaluable in these situations. The ability to tell a compelling story helped me drive objectives and highlight benefits in ways that inspired action.
From Bite-Sized Plans to OKRs and Sprints
I focused on one issue and one solution at a time, breaking it into manageable, bite-sized pieces.
Years later, this approach would evolve into what we now call “sprints” with stories or quarterly Objectives and Key Results (OKRs).
Had the consulting firm proposed pricing for just the top three issues, outlining their benefits in measurable, dollar , they might have won the business one piece at a time instead of losing the entire opportunity.
Be Agile in Execution
The key takeaway? Be agile in execution and communicate in of measurable benefits.
When stakeholders can see the journey, understand the steps, and measure progress, they are far more likely to commit to action.
So, the next time you present a strategy, don’t just provide a solution—paint a picture of success.
How Target Align Helps Startups with Agile OKRs
Target Align is a powerful platform designed to simplify OKR implementation and Agile execution for startups. With an intuitive interface and advanced tracking capabilities, Target Align helps startups:
- Set clear, measurable OKRs aligned with business strategy.
- Integrate OKRs with Agile workflows, ensuring teams stay focused.
- Enhance transparency with real-time tracking and reports.
- Encourage ability through structured check-ins and peer .
- Foster alignment between leadership and teams by breaking down top-level objectives into actionable key results.
By using Target Align, startups can eliminate confusion, streamline goal-setting, and drive sustainable growth.
If you’re interested in learning more about OKRs and its implementation, sign up for Target Align’s video course. For more resources, visit www.targetalign.com and check out their OKR 101 material.