Once you have developed the strategy for your new system it’s time to execute. Now is when you get to put all the fun things you dreamed up into practice and create the system, and revenue, you imagined.
But how do you do that? How do you take your thoughts and goals and put them into practice in a thoughtful and successful way?
There are three key steps to executing your system. These three steps must all be in place for the implementation to work smoothly.
Team management. Execution design. Metrics Origination.
Let’s take a look at each of these in order.
Team management
Most of the time there are breakdowns in system implementation that stem from team management.
It’s not that your team members aren’t capable. It’s simply that they aren’t set up for success.
Let’s look at 3 things you can do to set your team up for success, and make sure your systems are implemented to support you and your business goals.
Clearly Define the Project Goals and Objectives
The first and most important step is to clearly define the goals and objectives of the implementation project. This means communicating the business problem that the project aims to solve, the benefits that the project will bring to the organization, and how it fits into the broader organizational strategy.
This information will help your team understand the purpose and importance of the project, and how their efforts will contribute to its success. It will also allow them to make suggestions if they see areas that can be improved.
“94% of problems in business are systems driven and only 6% are people driven.”
Explain the Implementation Plan and Timeline
Once you have communicated the goals and objectives of the project, the next step is to explain the implementation plan and timeline.
This includes discussing the tasks involved, the timeline for completing each task, what hitting or missing the deadline will affect downstream, and the milestones that will mark the progress of the project.
It’s important to be transparent about the project timeline and any potential risks or challenges that could impact the schedule. This will help your team understand what is expected of them, and how they can contribute to keeping the project on track.
Encourage Feedback and Collaboration
Finally, it’s important to encourage feedback and collaboration from your team throughout the implementation process. This means creating a culture of open communication, where team members feel comfortable sharing their thoughts, ideas, and concerns.
You can encourage feedback by asking for input during meetings, providing opportunities for team members to share their perspectives, and actively listening to their feedback. Collaboration can be encouraged by assigning tasks that require team members to work together, holding team-building events, and recognizing team achievements.
This will help to build a sense of ownership and engagement among team members, and ultimately contribute to the success of the implementation project.
The latest marketing automation statistics show that the global market is projected to grow from $4,438.7 million in 2020 to $14,180.6 million in 2030 (Research and Markets, 2021)
Execution Design
Define the Goals and Objectives
The first step in designing an execution strategy is to define the goals and objectives of the strategy. This means identifying what you want to achieve and how you will measure success. The goals and objectives should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).
Conduct a Situation Analysis
Once you have defined the goals and objectives, the next step is to conduct a situation analysis. This involves assessing the current state of the organization, identifying any internal or external factors that could impact the execution strategy, and analyzing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) of the organization.
Identify Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
After conducting a situation analysis, the next step is to identify the key performance indicators (KPIs) that will be used to track progress towards the goals and objectives. KPIs should be aligned with the goals and objectives and should be measurable, relevant, and actionable.
Develop an Action Plan
Now it’s time to develop an action plan. This involves identifying the specific actions that need to be taken to achieve the goals and objectives, assigning responsibilities, and establishing timelines. The action plan should be clear, concise, and realistic, with measurable targets and milestones.
The average marketing automation ROI is $5.44 per dollar spent (Nucleus Research)
Monitor and Evaluate Progress
The final step in designing an execution strategy is to monitor and evaluate progress towards the goals and objectives. This involves tracking the KPIs, analyzing the results, and making any necessary adjustments to the action plan.
Regular monitoring and evaluation are essential to ensure that the strategy remains relevant and effective, and to identify any issues or challenges that need to be addressed. We’ll talk further about this in a later article.
“Organize around business functions, not people. Build systems within each business function. Let systems run the business and people run the systems. People come and go but the systems remain constant”
Metrics Origination
Define Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
The first and most important step, and this must be done during the implementation stage, is to define the key performance indicators (KPIs) that will be used to measure the effectiveness and efficiency of the system. KPIs should be specific, measurable, and relevant to the objectives of the system. By defining KPIs, you can track progress, identify areas for improvement, and optimize the system accordingly.
Establish Data Collection Processes
The second step is to establish data collection processes that will enable you to capture the data needed to track the KPIs. This involves identifying the sources of data, determining the data points to be collected, and establishing the frequency of data collection.
It’s important to ensure that data is collected consistently and accurately, and that there are no gaps or errors in the data.
39% of companies said the main advantage of marketing automation was its ability to generate higher-quality leads (Pedalix)
Implement Analytics and Reporting Tools
The final step is to implement analytics and reporting tools that will enable you to analyze the data and generate insights. This involves selecting the appropriate tools and technologies, configuring them to capture and analyze the data, and establishing reporting processes.
The analytics and reporting tools should be able to provide real-time data and insights, allowing you to identify trends and patterns, and make informed decisions to optimize the system.
As you can see, there are a number of things to do to make sure you are able to effectively implement the systems you’ve designed. Without forethought and planning it will be difficult to set things up to work the way you envision.
Take your time, get some help in executing these steps, and work steadily toward your goal. It may sound complicated and time consuming but we promise, we do this every day. You can too.
