Once people are engaged, and a plan is in place, the next challenge is this:
Can you execute—and measure what matters?
Step 6 in our framework combines two essential elements: implementing the transformation and measuring success. Without disciplined execution and visible progress, even the best strategy will stall.
Here’s how we approached this across three different organizations.
1. Large Manufacturing Company
Even as we coached finance leaders to be strategic partners, our systems still rewarded transactional efficiency. Execution required deliberate effort.
We:
- Piloted new reporting formats focused on decision support
- Rolled out training programs with defined milestones
- Measured adoption through feedback from business unit leaders
It was iterative. We adapted based on what we learned—but we kept moving.
2. Mid-Size Electronics Manufacturing Services Company
This was a turnaround. Implementation had to be fast, focused, and effective.
We:
- Launched quick wins to build momentum
- Held daily/weekly/monthly leadership reviews with a dashboard of key transformation metrics relevant to those timeframes
- Tied individual and team goals to specific elements of the transformation
Measuring results helped us course-correct early and often. It also kept energy high.
3. Global Internet Payments Company
With teams spread across time zones, execution needed consistency—and visibility.
We:
- Built cross-functional implementation teams with clear charters
- Used real-time dashboards to track progress and surface issues
- Conducted weekly/monthly/quarterly reviews to spotlight success and unblock challenges
We measured what mattered to our customers—uptime, speed, ease of onboarding, transaction processing, and getting paid—and linked it directly to our internal priorities. Execution became a shared language across the organization.
Lessons Learned
- Progress beats perfection. Move fast, learn fast, adjust.
- Measurement creates focus. What gets measured gets attention.
- Accountability doesn’t require micromanagement—it requires clarity.
Reflection Questions
- Are you tracking transformation progress—or just hoping for the best?
- What few metrics will really tell you if you’re succeeding?
- How do you create urgency without chaos—and accountability without fear?
In At C-Level #17, we’ll tackle the final step: how to embed and sustain the transformation—so it becomes part of your culture, not just a passing phase.