Execution: The Discipline of Doing Simple Things Consistently and Well

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© 2016 John Walton. All rights reserved.

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Published by AuthorHouse 03/29/2016

ISBN: 978-1-5049-8725-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-8726-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-8724-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016904878

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Preface

Throughout our life we witnessed people take on personal challenges or engage in activities that require special effort beyond the daily run-of-the-mill tasks. Some of these endeavors are self-imposed while others are the result of situations we find ourselves in.

Many of these challenges are very visible to the public, while others can be of a very private or personal nature. Regardless of their nature or origin, the need to be engaged and accomplish or overcome these challenges is a fundamental part of life.

In almost every situation, these challenges, obstacles, trials, or strategic endeavors have that common thread that they require the very best of our abilities. Usually, these are not things that come easy or can be easily dismissed as unimportant. In almost every case, there are consequences if the effort is not made, or proper attention applied to the task. Some measure of success is almost always imperative.

While some of these endeavors may involve a considerable commitment of time and effort, most are things that take only a moment or two, or maybe a few minutes of our attention. Typically the maximum duration involved in any one task is less than a few hours a day. However it is the efficiency and effectiveness of our execution during those brief intervals of time that ultimately determine the success of the final outcome.

We know that it is our individual ability to execute that determines how successful we will be, however it has been my observation that what people typically struggle with is identifying and improving a small set of specific behaviors that when applied in any endeavor significantly impact their ability to achieve a successful outcome.

The word execute has frequently been used in describing the personal effort applied to how we accept and take on challenges. What is interesting is how the act of executing is described regardless of whether the outcome of the activity succeeds or fails. Consider how at the end of a sporting event when the team captains, coach’s, or outstanding players of the game are interviewed, each will describe the outcome of the event in terms of the ability or inability of individual players or the team collectively to execute. So, what does that mean?

Both teams talk about their need to execute, but ultimately one team will come out victorious over the other. The winner’s ability to execute was simply more successful at increasing their score verses their opponent. The question becomes; how did they accomplish that?

Studies show that upon a closer examination it seems that several behaviors and practices always exist that result in a more effective or efficient outcome that subsequently influences the outcome toward achieving success.

The question we need to be asking then is; what do efficient and effective people do when executing that ineffective and inefficient people apparently do not?

This book answers that question by exploring simple behaviors people perform and perform well who are more efficient and effective in their pursuit of success.

This book will also introduce ways to develop those behaviors, in order to make your execution in every situation consistently better.

About the Author

John Walton began his professional career as a software development engineer with a Bachelor’s of Science degree from the University of Utah in Computer Science. Following graduation he climbed both the technical and management ladder at several of the world’s top technology companies.

In 2001 John earned Project Manager Professional certification, and with the exception of a brief period operating his own consulting company has been working in program and project management roles for various consulting and contract organizations.

During his career John contributed to and helped direct the development of multiple technologies that have had a positive influence in the quality of people’s lives throughout the world in areas of healthcare, defense, aerospace, financial services, banking, energy, communication, and semi-conductor design.

Over the last fifteen years he has shared his expertise by helping several small start-ups as well as large multi-national organizations eliminate wasteful practices and become more efficient in their day to day operations.

John’s interest in achieving more efficient and effective execution began while working in program and project management. It was while reviewing project performance and reflecting on past experiences that he first began identifying fundamental behaviors that separated individuals who execute with an average level of effectiveness from those people who were truly exceptional performers.

This specific contribution to the topic of execution is based on his independent research coupled with thirty-five years of personal observations and first-hand experience managing people and activities.

Outside of his career, John has coached young women’s softball in the local community’s league, and has worked extensively in the Boy Scouts of America organization over a period of several decades serving at the local unit level as a Scoutmaster and in the district as an Assistant District Commissioner.

Mr. Walton currently lives in Northern Utah with his wife. They have six children.

Acknowledgements

My wife Candace and my children have been a great strength to me during the period over which this material was gathered and written. My love and thanks go to them for their patience and understanding.

In addition I would be remiss to not acknowledge the contributions of all the people who throughout history have inspired and encourage us to be the best we can in all that we do. Such a list is obviously too long to include.

Contents

Preface

About the Author

Acknowledgements

PROLOGUE

The Battlefield

INTRODUCTION

The Art of Execution

Origin of the Word Execution

Execution as an Ability

Discussion on Execution

Defining Execution

Mastering Yourself

Doing is More than Trying

Simple Things

The Need for Consistency

Doing it Well

CHAPTER ONE

Awareness

Self and Situational Awareness

Developing Awareness

CHAPTER TWO

Focus

The Multi Tasking Myth

The Rule of Three

CHAPTER THREE

Balance

The Case for Balance

Achieving Balance

CHAPTER FOUR

Timing

The Time Management Myth

Refuel the Mind

CHAPTER FIVE

Communication

Windows and Cloaks

Improving the Message

CHAPTER SIX

Details

Develop the Sleuth in You

Look Beyond the Obvious

Penetrate the Smoke

Learn From Mirrors

CHAPTER SEVEN

Precision

A Study in Precision

Measure Twice, Cut Once

CHAPTER EIGHT

Attitude

Sportmanship Not Dominance

Keep Score

Be Positive Not Optimistic

PROLOGUE

1

The Battlefield

When evaluating the outcome of daily activities, we consistently discover that it is our ability to effectively execute those tasks over which we have control that determines our success.

The date was the 20th of February 1815. The sun was bright and helped take the oceanic chill out of the