In the fast-paced world of leadership, especially in product development and team management, the common assumption is that execution is everything. You’ll often hear people say, “Just get things done,” or “Focus on delivering.” But what if I told you that execution alone, without a solid plan, could actually lead to more harm than good?
As a leader, I’ve learned that a great deal of thought, preparation, and planning is needed before you dive into execution. It might seem counterintuitive at first—spending time upfront on planning when the clock is ticking and results are expected. But here’s the reality: If you rush into execution without a well-thought-out strategy, you risk delivering the wrong solution, or worse, delivering nothing at all.
When we talk about planning, we often hear the term “waterfall,” and that can sometimes turn people off. Leaders frequently think that spending time on a plan means they’re falling into the trap of traditional waterfall methodologies. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, as Agile leaders, we know that planning should be iterative, just like the work we deliver. It’s not about writing out a massive, inflexible roadmap—it’s about using planning as a tool to shape and refine the path to execution.
I’ve come to see planning as an integral part of the execution process. It’s not a waste of time. Instead, it’s an investment. I call it the “Execution Game Plan,” and it’s something I actively use to shape how my team tackles new challenges. Here’s why:
The Role of Planning in Execution
When we start planning, we don’t aim for perfection—we aim for clarity. As a leader, one of the first things I ensure during planning is a solid understanding of the problem space. Without a clear grasp of the problem at hand, how can we expect to execute a solution? This is where the real value of planning comes in—it forces us to ask the tough questions. What are the risks? What challenges will we face? Are there open questions that need answers before we proceed? What is the most effective approach to solving this problem?
Planning isn’t about dictating every detail upfront. It’s about setting the foundation, establishing a direction, and leaving room for flexibility. That’s why I’ve introduced what I call “spikes” into our planning process. These are short, focused efforts where the team digs deep into the problem space before execution begins. Spikes aren’t meant to be quick fixes; they are deep dives into the unknown, helping us uncover risks, assumptions, and alternative solutions.
The outcome of a spike is an Execution Game Plan. This plan doesn’t just lay out the “how” of execution, but also the “why” and “what could go wrong.” By the time we start executing, we have a clearer understanding of the problem and a roadmap to navigate potential obstacles. It’s not a rigid plan that we blindly follow; it’s a flexible guide that helps us adapt as we go.
How Planning Enhances Agility
Agility isn’t just about speed—it’s about being adaptive and delivering value iteratively. As we work on our execution game plan, we create a predictable outcome. This leads to better foresight, which improves our ability to adapt and make course corrections if needed. In other words, spending time planning actually makes us more agile in the long run.
The beauty of this process is that we can revisit and refine the plan as we go. With every iteration, we can assess progress, learn from challenges, and update our approach. Planning isn’t a one-time event; it’s an ongoing, living process that evolves as our understanding of the problem space evolves.
Leadership Lessons Learned Along the Way
Throughout my journey, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful planning can be when done right. I’ve watched my teams tackle complex challenges with confidence, not because we had a perfect plan, but because we had a thoughtful plan that gave us clarity and direction. And even when things didn’t go according to the plan (as they often don’t), we had the framework to quickly pivot and adjust.
As leaders, we need to remind our teams that planning isn’t an impediment to execution—it’s an enabler. Yes, planning takes time, but it saves us time in the long run by reducing risks and increasing the predictability of our outcomes. The time spent in thoughtful preparation pays dividends in quality execution, delivering better results for our customers and stakeholders.
In the end, the Execution Game Plan is more than just a methodology—it’s a mindset. It’s about empowering your team to think critically, embrace the unknown, and solve problems with confidence. As leaders, we set the tone for how our teams approach challenges. When we prioritize planning alongside execution, we foster a culture of thoughtful action that leads to more sustainable success.