Strategy Execution: Are We Doing What We Said We Would Do? And Is It Having the Impact We Thought It Would Have?

Too many strategies fail not because they were poorly conceived, but because we never stopped to ask two simple questions:

1. Are we doing what we said we would do?

2. Is it having the impact we thought it would have?

If you're not asking both, you risk doing a lot of work that leads nowhere.

Let’s unpack why these questions matter—and how to use them to stay on track.

Are We Doing What We Said We Would Do?

It sounds basic, but most organisations lose sight of this quickly. Initiatives stall, accountability drifts, and strategic focus blurs.

That’s why the first checkpoint in strategy execution is simple:

Are the actions we planned actually happening?

This requires:

• Clarity of execution: Have we clearly defined who is doing what, by when, with what resources?

• Operational alignment: Are we embedding strategic priorities into OKRs, business reviews, and daily management routines?

• Visible tracking: Are we monitoring progress consistently and transparently?

StratNavApp’s Initiative Status Report is built exactly for this purpose. It helps you:

• Track progress on each initiative

• See which actions are on time, overdue or blocked

• Ensure accountability by linking initiatives to responsible owners

When every stakeholder can see what’s being done—and what’s falling behind—it becomes much easier to keep execution aligned with intent.

Is It Having the Impact We Thought It Would Have?

This second question is the real test.

Just because a team is doing the work doesn’t mean it’s delivering the results you hoped for. Activity is not the same as impact.

To measure impact, you need to:

• Define expected outcomes clearly at the start

• Distinguish between leading indicators (early signals) and lagging indicators (final results)

• Regularly check whether the outcomes match expectations

StratNavApp’s Strategy Scorecard brings this to life. It:

• Links each strategic objective to measurable KPIs

• Tracks current performance against targets

• Offers visual cues for whether you're on track, off-track or need to investigate

This is where strategic learning happens.

What If the Impact Isn’t There?

If the answer to question two is “no”—we're doing the work, but not seeing the results—there’s probably little point in ploughing on blindly.

Instead:

• Revisit assumptions: Did we misunderstand the problem or overestimate the solution?

• Review timing: Are we expecting impact too soon? Some initiatives need to complete before results show.

• Break it down: Can we split the initiative into phases so we can learn and adapt as we go?

This is especially important in complex or long-term projects. If you're not careful, you can spend months executing before you realise the whole approach needs adjustment.

Where possible, use phased execution. Deliver early components that can generate feedback—and use that insight to refine your plan.

Closing the Feedback Loop

The combination of StratNavApp’s Initiative Status Report and Strategy Scorecard gives you a complete feedback loop:

• Are we doing what we said we would do? → Initiative Status Report

• Is it having the impact we thought it would have? → Strategy Scorecard

If you’re consistently answering “yes” to both, you’re on a path to success.

If not—pause, investigate, and adapt.

Ready to Put This into Practice?

StratNavApp is purpose-built for strategy execution. It gives you the structure, visibility and feedback you need to stay on course—and change course when necessary.

• Try it free at StratNavApp.com

• Schedule a demo at calendly.com/chriscfox/stratnavapp-com-demo

Don’t just build a strategy. Execute it. And make sure it’s working.