EXECUTOR’S DNA.

We’ve briefly looked at what it takes to have the Innovator’s DNA in one of our previous articles but now we have to deal with the fact that innovators can only be responsible for the beginning stage of any innovation process and along the line, we would need to execute any innovative idea that has been generated and this is where we need Executors.

Executors are not just good at reviewing ideas for innovation but they actually follow the idea through to implementation. They are not just observers of innovative idea but executors of those great ideas. When we talk of Executors, these are the ones that make a non-realistic idea to become realistic. These are the ones who might not understand the source of the idea but are willing to go extra-mile to bring something of substance, out of that idea. They might not be so good at coming up with innovative ideas but they are good at bringing the virtual substance (innovative idea) to become a real product or enhanced services.

We cannot be talking of innovators without considering that some people are actually responsible for implementing those ideas to get through to completion stage. In the process of completing the cycle of innovation, we will identify skill sets for an Executor to successfully bring an innovative idea to completion.

Hal Gregersen and Jeff Dyer described it in a very simple way that I found so interesting. They concluded that Executors possess some skills that set them apart and here are some of those skills that can foster the completion of an innovation process in any organization:

1.   Analyzing

2.   Planning

3.   Detail-oriented

4.   Self-discipline

ANALYSIS:

 Executors need to analyze their findings or the result from the researches, carried out on any subject before drawing out a conclusion that the idea is viable, reliable and executable. Innovation analysis can be done in such ways, so as to encourage the findings with the aim of the innovation. The team responsible for innovating need to collate data, logic, realism and generate facts from the figure accumulated, in other to make decision as a result of their findings. At this point is when you consider the requirement standard of the sponsor with that of the end-users, if the product is flexible enough for use or if it would not affect the present delivery of service. An innovative idea is presently not real (i.e. virtual substance). But how do we take this idea to become a product or improved service, without understanding the available resources and steps to take, in order to deliver a great end-product to users.

PLANNING:

In the process of executing a project and carry out a task, it is expected to plan the steps to be taken, in other to reach the finish line. If the execution process is not planned properly, if will lead to an innovative idea being executed improperly and it automatically eludes the idea of being great. That is the importance of adhering to rigorous steps in the execution stage and executors are responsible for that, hence they need to possess the planning skill.

DETAIL-ORIENTED:

Every detail of a proposed innovation must be specific and detailed enough for any member of the project team or stakeholder, to read and understand the progress of the project.

In the process of following an execution plan for an innovation, there could be some changes that will have to be thoroughly managed and communicated to other members of the project team, so that they are all aware of the situation and can act accordingly, if there’s need for that.

In other words, communication is an essential element to every innovation and this can only be achieved by being detailed in all our communications and request for changes to project/product execution plan.

SELF-DISCIPLINE:

Anyone can come up with an innovative idea but not everyone is capable, courageous and skilful enough to execute an innovative idea. It is therefore paramount that an Executor possesses the attribute of self-discipline, which can serve as a form of motivation to carry on with the innovation process, through to completion stage.

At the beginning stage of every innovation, it can seem very exciting and interesting but as the project progresses and deliverables are expected to be presented for testing, it starts getting awkward and beyond expectation. This is when an Executor needs to exercise some patience, by constantly going through the execution plan to understand every line of actions in the innovation process. Self-discipline demands that an Executor stays rigorously with the execution plan and only make changes when the team must have agreed that, it is the best decision to make.

In conclusion, we've all heard about CEOs (Chief Executive Officer) or Directors of companies and the first thing that comes to mind is that they lead various companies to become successful; but when we actually look closely at the name Chief Executive Officer, it simply means that the person is Chief Executor and he/she is responsible for executing at least one of the numerous ideas that would be presented before him/her, as CEO. 
The same thing goes with us as Team leaders, Managers, Entrepreneurs and Individuals (i.e. The Director of your own personal life). We are also Chief Executive Officers of our different teams or any platform that we are leading, since we are responsible for executing ideas and making decisions to execute innovative ideas.
So, it is absolutely necessary that we measure our skills against these skills set out for 'CHIEF EXECUTORS'.

Now that we’ve been able to identify the skills set for an Executor and we’ve already looked at the skills of an Innovator in one of our previous articles “INNOVATOR’s DNA”, we would like you to access yourself against all these skills and verify if you’re thoroughly an Innovator or more of an Executor and if you simply fall in between both of them; we have another term for you, which will be discussed later in another article on this blog site.

Keep reading and recommending our blog site to your friends, networks and business associates.

By Temitayo Oyediran,
Director, Teesoft Limited.

(Teesoft Limited is a consulting and coaching company with expertise in project management, service management, business analysis and personal/corporate coaching.)