Why Most Strategies Fail—and How to Fix It with One Simple Shift 22 Aug 2024

Let’s cut to the chase: Why do so many brilliant strategies end up in the dustbin? It’s not because of bad ideas or lack of talent. No, it’s something far more insidious—something most organisations overlook until it’s too late...

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: Your strategy isn’t the problem. The real issue? Execution. And not just execution in the traditional sense, but the lack of a unified approach to executing that strategy. You see, it’s easy to get teams to work hard. It’s a whole different game to get them to work together.

Now, here’s where most organisations trip up: They create a strategy, communicate it (maybe), and expect every team to magically align. Spoiler alert—they don’t. What you end up with is a mess of silos, missed targets, and a blame game that would make a toddler look mature.

You’ve probably heard it all before—engagement surveys, performance reviews, team-building exercises. But let me ask you this: When was the last time you measured how well your teams actually collaborate? I’m talking about real, cross-functional collaboration. If you’re drawing a blank, you’re not alone. This is the missing piece, folks.

Here’s the kicker: The lack of collaboration isn’t just an operational hiccup; it’s a strategy killer. If your teams aren’t working together, they’re working against each other. That’s why you need to measure collaboration as rigorously as you measure your bottom line. Enter the Net Collaboration Score (NCS)—the game-changing metric you’ve been missing.

Most organisations are obsessed with Key Results (KRs). They measure everything that moves—except how well those moving parts work together. The NCS fills that gap by measuring the effectiveness of cross-team collaboration. It’s the glue that holds your strategy together, ensuring that every team is pulling in the same direction.

Let’s get specific. According to HBR, 78% of organisations have "collaboration drag". That’s right—almost eight out of ten. And yet, most companies are still relying on outdated engagement surveys that don’t even touch on cross-team dependencies. It’s like trying to fix a leaky roof with a roll of duct tape. It’s not going to work.

So what’s the solution? Simple. You need a tool that doesn’t just measure how happy your teams are, but how well they work together. That’s where Cophi comes in. Unlike your run-of-the-mill engagement survey, Cophi’s NCS digs deep into the nitty-gritty of cross-team collaboration. It gives you actionable insights that you can use to break down silos and drive real results.

Let me be blunt: If you’re not measuring collaboration, you’re not serious about your strategy. It’s that simple. Cophi makes sure collaboration isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a measurable, actionable part of your strategic plan.

Here’s your next move: Stop relying on hope and start relying on data. Make collaboration your top Key Result. Adopt the NCS, and watch how quickly your strategy goes from good to unstoppable.

Ready to revolutionise your approach? Get started with Cophi today.