{"id":10301,"date":"2017-10-26T15:22:00","date_gmt":"2017-10-26T19:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/?p=10301"},"modified":"2026-02-12T05:35:09","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T10:35:09","slug":"7-ways-a-winning-strategy-culture-and-operations-deliver-results","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/7-ways-a-winning-strategy-culture-and-operations-deliver-results\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Ways a winning strategy, culture, and operations deliver results"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStrategy, Legal & Operations<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t7 Ways a winning strategy, culture, and operations deliver results\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t

\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\tWayne Washington<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

I recently spoke with Wayne Washington of GrowCompanyProfits.com<\/a> about a topic that is near and dear to Sage Intacct: how to create a winning company strategy and culture. Wayne had some excellent insight that Sage Intacct wanted to share. Check out this post below on seven ways that a winning strategy and culture can deliver big results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are your business results falling short of expectations? Are you blindsided by hidden costs, disengaged employees, and unnecessary complexity? Are you sick and tired of fighting your competitors and internal roadblocks?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unless your strategy, culture, and operating model are synchronized, you are wasting time, alienating employees, and leaving money on the table.  The few minutes you spend reading the rest of this blog, will explain how a strategically aligned company is positioned for sustained results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s define terms!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your strategy<\/strong> is your overall plan to win in your marketplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you develop your strategy, you get to choose your marketplace and you get to define what is a win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The only reason a company might choose not to have a strategy is because they are comfortable in their market position. Having no strategy is a certain slow death for a company. Market forces will eventually consume that company. Do you want this to happen to your company?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your culture<\/strong> is the sum of the beliefs and behaviors your employees bring to work every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each company\u2019s culture is unique. Your culture is formed by the values lived and breathed by each employee, every day on the job. I\u2019m not talking about the slogans hanging on the walls or the T-shirts. I\u2019m talking about the accumulated employee beliefs and behaviors which arrive at work every single day. This is who you really are. This is your identity and is how your brand is created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your operations <\/strong>are simply how things get done at your company. Things like: What needs to be done? Who does what? When does it get done? How will it get done?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are your systems, processes, and procedures to deliver your strategy to the marketplace. Your resulting operating model translates your strategy into the daily operating instructions to be performed by your front-line employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now that we have defined strategy, culture, and operations, I challenge you to reflect on this question? How satisfied have you been with your company\u2019s growth and profitability over the past ten years? If you are not pleased with your results, what are you going to do about it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first thing that must change is, your mindset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Begin to visualize strategy, culture, and operations as the life blood of your company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you successfully synchronize your strategy, culture, and operations, you are in a strong position to chart your company\u2019s course and begin to experience your company\u2019s vision. When strategy, culture, and operations are not in sync, your strategy, culture, and operations counterpunch each other until the best man wins. Employees become disengaged; complexity surrounds what should be simple changes; and you are consistently leaving money on the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, how do you know if your strategy, culture, and operations are aligned?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let me walk you through the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First visualize your strategy, culture, and operations as three circles. Each circle represents strategy, culture, or operations. The question that matters is: How well do your strategy, culture, and operations circles intersect?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strategy, culture, and operations and inter-dependent, and simultaneously impact each other. There are seven ways your strategy, culture, and operations can align with each other. I’ll briefly describe each. After you have reviewed the descriptions, think about which alignment sounds most like your company?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alignment 1 \u2013 Strategy Rules!<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

You have a great idea, but you have no clue what to do with that idea. Your strategy is developed and distributed, however, strategy is not a stand-alone step. You must make your culture and operations integral parts of your company\u2019s strategic plan development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alignment 2 \u2013 We Decide, You Do!<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Have you ever wondered why some of your company\u2019s initiatives underperform?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alignment 3 \u2013 The Dream!<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

You have in your head \u201cthat idea.\u201d In your mind you can see it, feel it, and touch it, as if it were real. But, you\u2019re the only one who sees it. The dream has not been translated into an executable game plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alignment 4 \u2013 Silo \/ Turf War!<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Results when your culture and operations are in alignment, but there is no common overall strategy. Each unit \/ department creates and act on the strategies they individually create. Say hello to politics, back stabbing, and game playing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alignment 5 \u2013 Culture is King!<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Here, it is extremely important that people work well together. There are very few HR issues to deal with, but, there\u2019s no strategy. No one knows how operations fit into the picture? An overall balance is needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alignment 6 \u2013 Everyone\u2019s on Board, I Hope It Works!<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Results when your culture and strategy are in alignment, but you\u2019re rolling the dice with operations thinking it should work. You begin your new initiative, have your kick-off meeting, post your slogans, wear your T-shirts, but don\u2019t spend a dime, nor give a second thought to operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alignment 7 \u2013 Sustained Results!<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

When your strategy, culture, and operations are aligned, five things are crystal clear:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • You know who you are.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • You know where you are going.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • You know how you will get there.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • You know when you will get there.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • You know you will have sustainable, scalable results.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    So, what will strategic alignment look like at your company?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • Your company is in strategic alignment when you can:<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Embrace marketplace turbulence with your agile workforce.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Consistently deliver your execution plans better, faster, and more cost effectively than your competition.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Maintain a workforce of owners who are excited to come to work each day.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Maximize the return on investment in your people, your equipment, and your capital.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      Just imagine:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      • The resulting positive impact on profitability.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Planting the seeds for your company\u2019s future growth.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Consistently beating your competition to the punch.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        Can you really afford not to align your strategy, operations, and culture? We\u2019ve come a long way together. So now, in the comments section, please let me know: Which alignment best represents how your company operates today? How is that working for you? Want to know more about strategic aligning your strategy, culture, and operations, sign up to receive my blog.<\/p>\n\n\n

        \n\t
        \n\t\t
        \n\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

        Subscribe to our Sage Advice Newsletter<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t\t\t

        Get our latest business advice delivered directly to your inbox.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSubscribe<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Working\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        I recently spoke with Wayne Washington of GrowCompanyProfits.com about a topic that is near and dear to Sage Intacct: how to create a winning company strategy and culture. Wayne had some excellent insight that Sage Intacct wanted to share. Check out this post below on seven ways that a winning strategy and culture can deliver big results. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1546,"featured_media":9108,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sage_video":false,"post_featured_image_hide":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[43,44,49],"tags":[170,420,253],"business_type":[41],"lilypad":[],"context":[418,429],"industry":[318,453,51,50,56,268,57,52,451,452,411,58,55,54,450,204,59,454],"persona":[98],"imagine_tag":[209,436],"coauthors":[598],"class_list":["post-10301","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-money-matters","category-strategy-legal-operations","category-trends-insights","tag-business-strategy","tag-cloud-financial-management","tag-performance","business_type-growing-business","industry-automotive","industry-biotech","industry-chemical","industry-construction-and-real-estate","industry-ecommerce","industry-entertainment","industry-financial-services","industry-food-beverage","industry-healthcare","industry-hospitality","industry-human-resources","industry-nonprofit","industry-professional-services","industry-retail","industry-software-saas","industry-technology","industry-travel-hospitality","industry-wholesale-distribution"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-us","author_name":"Wayne Washington","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1291536372.jpg","imagine_tags":{"209":"Accounting","436":"Intacct Accounting"}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice US","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10301","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/1546"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10301"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10301\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/9108"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10301"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10301"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10301"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=10301"},{"taxonomy":"lilypad","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/lilypad?post=10301"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=10301"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=10301"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=10301"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=10301"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=10301"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}