CIO — The time for talking always comes to an end, and then something must get done. A leader needs to set the direction and kick-start action. The issue quickly becomes how to lead the implementation effort. Whether the initiative is long or short, big or small, how a leader handles implementation may be the ultimate determining factor in his success. Over the years, I’ve learned (often the hard way) that there are two enduring principles essential to that leadership: intuition and discipline.
The best implementations come from a combination of these mind-sets. Developing your intuition, respecting it and acting on it creates maneuverability and forward thinking. In starting my first company, I remember feeling that an early strategic partner might not be trustworthy. Four weeks later, the partner opened up a competitive operation targeted directly at our customer base. Following that instinct helped us anticipate and blunt some of the damage that was done.
In contrast, discipline is necessary—both for leaders and implementers—to make consistent progress, establish a cadence, achieve scale and get the best use out of scarce resources. Learning the essential habits of discipline is a vital insurance policy in any leadership effort. The most basic discipline is communication and review of progress, on a daily and weekly basis, with your team.
Intuition and discipline are often perceived as being in conflict. Disciplined folks are reliable and can be counted on to bring structure to an effort. But they can be rigid, inflexible and shortsighted. On the other hand, intuitive people make quick, instinctive judgments and contribute valuable insights. But if left in charge, they may quickly cripple an effort by expecting others to operate the same way they do.
The truth is, these two leadership essentials complement each other in an almost magical way if you can get the hang of switching between the different mind-sets. The fact is, intuition without discipline will run aground, especially in larger-scale or complex efforts. Discipline without intuition results in steady progress but a reduced chance of a major breakthrough and an increased chance of falling prey to a major unanticipated threat. The combination of both is a powerful approach to leading implementation that is tough to beat.
The Power of Order
The toughest place to institute discipline for me has always been in fast-moving startups—whether they are new businesses or critical projects. They are small, almost by definition chaotic, and with such fast-changing divisions of labor, the regular changes of direction that discipline requires seems impossible. Which is, of course, exactly why it’s so valuable. Without the right types of professional discipline, such efforts are nearly always doomed to fail. The most important elements are:
