Where Are You Going? Why Founders Need to Align Execution with Strategic Growth
New York Yankee Hall of Famer Yogi Berra once said, “You’ve got to be careful if you don’t know where you are going, because you might not get there.” While this quote carries humor, in the world of organizational development—the intentional work of shaping how a company operates, grows, and aligns its people to deliver results—not knowing where your daily effort is taking you can be incredibly frustrating. And it will certainly throw your strategic business destination off track.
Leaders like to believe they are transformative, clearing the workplace of barriers so their teams can move the strategic needle. They like to believe their organizations are highly functional, with each person empowered to drive meaningful outcomes. And they like to believe they’ve built strong foundations that clearly communicate business intent.
Some leaders do all of this exceptionally well—and make it look easy. But for many, getting the entire organization to understand how and when to focus their daily effort toward long-term goals can be surprisingly elusive. There is no “one-size-fits-all” leadership style or management playbook that guarantees how an organization will respond to challenges and change. But there are foundational practices that help.
1. Vision
The foundation of any effective organization starts with vision. When a company defines its identity and direction, it becomes easier to chart the course—and easier for employees to decide if they want to be on that journey with you. A clear vision reinforces how every division, role, and daily action contributes to the ongoing success of the business.
2. Values
Vision is powered by values. These guiding principles define the organization’s culture and should serve as a touchstone for every decision, management behavior, and accountability practice. When values are clearly defined and consistently applied, it's easier to spot actions that misalign with the company’s culture—and correct course quickly. That clarity helps leaders stay focused and take decisive steps that support long-term strategic goals.
3. Goal Setting
There’s an old leadership adage: What gets measured gets achieved. But without transparent and specific goals, measurement becomes meaningless. Every employee should understand what’s expected of them, how their performance is being measured, and how their work contributes to the broader strategy. Leaders across all departments can drive alignment by setting clear, attainable performance goals that connect directly to the company’s vision.
Managing an organization without a foundation is possible but you are highly likely to miss your desired success timeline. Adopting organizational vision, values, and goals may seem like a daunting task if you do not have them in place. However, the effort put in toward establishing the foundation of your organization can help empower leadership teams and employees. Ultimately, exceling your organizations journey toward strategic destinations.