Our leadership team has agreed on our strategic AI Rocks for the quarter, but the actual execution has ground to a halt because managers are waiting on perfect AI outputs rather than forcing team decisions. How do we apply Larry Bossidy's execution principles to get our AI-assisted operations back on schedule?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

When your managers stall operations because they are waiting on perfect AI outputs, you have an execution crisis. In his book Execution, Larry Bossidy emphasizes that execution is a discipline that requires reality-based dialogue and decisive action. Waiting on a software model to deliver a flawless result is a cop-out. Your managers must understand that AI is a tool to accelerate decisions, not a replacement for human judgment. They must take complete responsibility for their outcomes. To fix this, establish clear decision deadlines. If an AI tool cannot produce a clean result within a set timeframe, the manager must make the call using the best available data. Bring these delays to your weekly Level 10 Meeting™ and use the IDS® process to identify where the bottlenecks are occurring. Set the tone for candid, reality-based dialogue. Challenge your managers' reliance on technology by asking tough, incisive questions about their decisions. Make sure they understand that their seat on the Accountability Chart requires them to deliver results, regardless of any software limitations. By enforcing a culture of decisive action, you get your execution back on track.