The term Flawless Execution gets used frequently in business. Here is a description of what it is, how it breaks down, how to improve the environment to avoid common pitfalls.

1. Managing Flawless Execution in Business
Peter Aldino June 16, 2009

2. What is Flawless Execution?
* Flawless Execution Is :
 A Business Strategy
 Involves Rapid Planning
 Uses Creative Focused Teams
 Requires Disciplined Execution
 Continuous Review of Lessons
Learned
*Jim “Murph” Murphy F-15 Strike Eagle Pilot

3. What happens to Flawless Execution when:
 There’s too much to do
 Not enough time
 Not enough tools
 Not enough resources
People crack , lose track -
 They channelize -
focusing on one thing
to the exclusion of all
else

4. The #1 Obstacle to Flawless Execution:
Task Saturation
 Overworked - Task
Saturated people are
dangerous
 Many accept overworking
as a badge of honor
Don’t take pride in
overworking
“We’ve been in the office for three
days straight. Some of us are
sleeping on the floor. Another guy
is walking around like a zombie
with his hand tied to a coffee pot.”

5. The Three Signs of Task Saturation are:
 Shutting Down
Quitting
Stop performing
Going blank
 Compartmentalizing
Acting busy
Doing little
 Channelizing
Focusing on one
thing
Ignoring important
requirements

6. Shutting Down
 Symptoms –
Quitting
– I’ve had it …
– I give up …
– There’s too much to do ….
Progress stops
Intervention is required to restart a
quitter
Time gets wasted, deadlines are
missed
 Fixes –
Take a break, a walk, get a coffee
Do something simple, clear your head
Recognize shutdown and get back on
track

7. Compartmentalizing
Is Very Risky –
 Acting busy, but doing little
 Organizing tasks instead of
doing them
 When doing tasks:
it’s all top to bottom
one at a time
first things first
no priorities
nothing is urgent
 Compartmentalizing usually
won’t get noticed until
something breaks

8. Channelizing
Target Fixation
 Intense focus on one thing
 Flying into the ground
Digging in to one thing at the
exclusion of all else
 Things start to fall apart

9. Three Ways to Combat Task Saturation
1) Use Checklists
• Use simple tools
• Easy to learn and deploy
• Gets people back on
track
2) Create effective crosschecks
• Teams or pairs work together
• Validate task urgency
• Validate task execution
3) Provide mutual support
• Create depth to offload tasks
• Have a succession plan

10. Flawless Execution without Task Saturation
 It’s not a badge of honor,
learn to deal with it
 Understand the warning
signs
 Acknowledge it exists
 Acknowledge it creates
problems
 Identify the symptoms
 Work to eliminate it