Great strategies bring a leader’s vision to life. They help tie values and principles to goals and objectives. But strategies don’t accomplish themselves. People do, and people need a plan.

Great plans bring a strategy to life. They help tie goals and objectives to tasks and actions. But plans don’t accomplish themselves. People do, and people need to prepare.

Great preparation brings a plan to life. Preparation helps tie tasks and actions to people and teams. But preparation alone doesn’t get the job done. Executing the plan does, and people execute.

Great execution brings hope to strategic planning and preparation. Execution binds people to action. But people and actions can sometimes get off track. To keep people and actions on track requires continuous assessment.

Great assessments help identify opportunities and risk. Capitalizing on opportunities and avoiding unnecessary risk help keep the plan alive and focused on achieving strategic goals and objectives. When these are achieved, teams celebrate.

Celebration is a tip of the hat to a great strategy.

Bringing a Strategy to Life: Plan, Prepare, Execute, Assess was originally published in Horizon Performance on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.