The Missing Link in Strategy: How to Turn Vision Into Daily Habits

Most organizations don’t have a strategy problem — they have a translation problem.

Leaders spend weeks (sometimes months) crafting beautiful strategic plans filled with inspiring language: "drive innovation," "foster collaboration," "center the customer." Yet when it’s time to execute, these plans often stall.

Why? Because most employees don’t know how to connect that big-picture vision to their daily work. In fact, research published in Harvard Business Review found that 95% of employees either don’t understand or can’t act on their organization’s strategy (Kaplan & Norton, 2005) — even if they believe in it.

From wall art to workplace habits

We often see values and strategies turned into posters or town hall slogans, but culture and strategy don't live on the wall — they live in habits.

When strategy is effectively translated, you see it in:

• The way people run meetings.

• How feedback is given and received.

• The priorities they choose when everything feels urgent.

• The conflicts they address (or avoid).

Three questions to turn strategy into action

Next time you’re introducing a new strategic initiative, try asking your team:

• What specific behaviors will make this strategy visible day to day?

• How will we reinforce these behaviors in our processes and rituals?

• How will we measure whether we’re truly living this strategy — not just talking about it?

These questions begin the shift from knowing to doing. And once strategy becomes embedded in behaviors, momentum builds — and results follow.

My recommended resource

For a deeper look at making strategy executable, I recommend Get a Grip by Gino Wickman and Mike Paton. This book (and the broader EOS framework) offers practical tools for moving from big ideas to operational clarity — something I’ve woven into many of my own client engagements.

Want to make your strategy stick?

Book a complimentary discovery call today — let’s explore how we can turn your strategic vision into aligned, daily habits that drive results.

Book Your Discovery Call.

Why do most strategies fail?

Most strategies fail because they don’t get translated into clear, daily actions that people understand. Without practical habits and behaviors tied to strategy, even the best plans remain abstract and don't gain traction.

How do you implement a strategy successfully?

Successful implementation starts with clear communication of the vision and objectives. Then, leaders must help teams break these goals into practical, measurable actions — and reinforce them with accountability and support.

What is the link between strategy and execution?

The link is behavior. Strategy sets the direction, but execution depends on what people actually do every day. Aligning behaviors with strategic goals is what turns vision into results.