When Progress Trumps Perfection
When Progress Trumps Perfection: Why Quick Wins Can Build Lasting Impact
We’ve all seen it before—the meticulously crafted strategy document, polished to perfection, sitting on the CEO’s desk. It’s the result of countless hours of investment, a beacon for where the organization should be headed in the next five years.
And while those strategy documents are critical for long-term vision, they're not always the answer for managing the day-to-day changes. In fact, they are periodic guides, often updated every few years. But in today’s dynamic business environment, change is constant. Shifts in technology, market demands, customer behaviour, and internal operations keep executives on their toes. So how do you navigate these rapid changes without endlessly re-investing in end-to-end strategy reviews?
The answer is simple: Focus on progress, not perfection. This is where experience matters most—being able to deliver directionally correct results, even when the path ahead isn't crystal clear.
The Reality of Constant Change
It’s tempting to think that every significant shift in the business warrants a full-scale review of the strategy. After all, wouldn't a careful analysis lead to more precise actions? Not always. The need for perfection can often paralyse decision-making and delay meaningful action. Biting off manageable chunks of change and delivering quick wins can create more lasting credibility than waiting for the perfect strategy to materialize.
In periods of rapid change, leveraging hard-earned experience becomes key to making effective decisions in real-time. It’s about doing what’s right now and proving your value through quick, visible wins.
Build Credibility Through Delivery, Not Analysis
When resources are scarce—and they almost always are—quick wins offer more than just immediate results. They build your reputation for delivery. Executives who can deliver smaller but impactful changes earn the trust and confidence of stakeholders. This incremental progress often unlocks more support for future investments, opening doors to broader initiatives over time.
Knowing which pieces to prioritize can be challenging, especially when you're too close to the situation. That’s where experience matters—external partners who have walked similar paths before can provide critical perspective and help identify the right initiatives with the biggest potential for impact.
Case Study: Target Operating Model (TOM) Reviews
A great example of this approach can be seen in Target Operating Model (TOM) reviews. A comprehensive TOM usually involves evaluating everything from structure, capability, products, and services to governance and technology. Traditionally, these reviews consume vast amounts of time and resources, often producing recommendations that lead to a laundry list of actions.