Question 5 from the 5 Questions Every Firm Leader Should Be Asking This Spring
Most firms don’t need more ideas.
They need a better way to execute.
Are we actually moving things forward - or just talking about it?
Planning happens constantly.
There are growth goals, strategic discussions, and even internal presentations about what’s next.
But in many firms, execution doesn't follow as clearly as the plan.
The ideas are there - what's missing is the structure to carry them forward.
Where Execution Breaks Down
Many firms are strong on planning, but the way they’re set up to execute hasn’t kept pace with what they’re trying to accomplish.
New services are launched on paper… then assigned to existing partners as practice leads.
Those same partners are still managing their book of business.
They’ve already got too many hats, and now they’re expected to drive firm-wide growth, too.
It’s not that people aren’t capable.
It’s that the model wasn’t built for this kind of growth and in many cases, teams haven’t been shown how to execute differently.
Execution tends to break down not because people aren't committed, but because the firm's structure hasn't caught up with its goals.
It often shows up through:
Competing priorities
Unclear ownership
Lack of structure or support across departments
Teams operating in silos instead of working together toward shared outcomes
And in some cases, a lack of experience or systems for executing beyond client work
There’s a difference between collaboration and accountability.
And between discussion and real follow-through.
What Execution Really Requires
Execution doesn’t require doing everything.
It requires doing the right things - consistently.
That means:
Setting priorities that people can actually act on
Assigning ownership that isn’t layered onto overloaded roles
Building simple systems to track what’s moving and what’s not
Creating structure that supports true cross-functional collaboration - not more silos
Where TK's Skinny Playbook™ Fits In
This is why I created the Skinny Playbook™, a lightweight structure designed to help firms align, prioritize, and execute without creating complexity.
It’s not a replacement for strategic planning.
It's how execution starts, while broader initiatives and leadership planning can continue in parallel.
The best firms don’t wait until they’ve solved everything to start moving.
They start where they are - with a plan that’s built to make traction visible and achievable.
Final Thought.....
If your firm is ready to move beyond planning and start building momentum - this is the question to focus on next.
Execution doesn’t start with another meeting.
It starts with structure.