Most organizations only focus on execution or adaptation. But both are important for success.


Research shows that most leaders and organizations tend to focus on just one type of performance. But there are two types that are important for success. The first type is known as tactical performance. Tactical performance is how effectively your organization sticks to its strategy. It is the driver of focus and consistency. It allows organizations to increase strength by directing limited resources to the fewest targets.

The second type, known as adaptive performance, is how effectively your organization diverges from its strategy. Adaptive performance manifests as creativity, problem solving, grit, innovation, and citizenship. It allows organizations to create value in a world filled with, as the U.S. military says, volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity, where technology and strategy changes rapidly.

Organizations need to focus on both tactical and adaptive performance to succeed.



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