Run Your Business Like a Marathon

3. Technology
In both running and business, technology should enable you to achieve your objectives; it should not define or distract you from them. In running, perhaps you struggle to maintain a steady pace or confirm your distance—choosing the right running watch can help. At work, you may struggle to integrate online orders with backend inventory tracking systems. Architecting the right integration strategy should solve the issue. Clearly defining technology requirements is always the best first step to selecting technology solutions—in running and at work.

4. Execution
Your goal and your plan are only worth anything if you can implement them. All of the energy it took to define the goal and develop the plan loses its value if the execution is not excellent. While executing, it is important to keep a close eye on the competition, but also to deliver against your own plan to achieve your specific goal. In racing and in business, I recommend four key elements to achieve a successful execution: teamwork, flexibility, active risk mitigation, and discipline.

• Teamwork: Find compatible running partners. Build up a strong project team. Delegate as appropriate. When I am training for a marathon, I can't always deliver on my daily life tasks, sometimes I need to hire a babysitter or have my spouse cook dinner so that I can make sure I get my runs in. At work, similar delegation is required to keep focus on the project tasks. It is always difficult to keep your regular job tasks moving forward and contribute to a project team at the same time. Identify elements of your "day job" to delegate.
• Flexibility: Things happen. As they do, be flexible with your execution but keep moving forward towards the next milestone in the plan. If your babysitter cancels, take the kids with you and run with a jog stroller. If it snows, find a treadmill. Better yet, get creative, grab your cross-country skis and do some cross training. Inbusiness, if a pressing issue arises that creates a distraction for the team, manage it thoughtfully. Perhaps use a divide and conquer strategy to ensure that some portion of the team can still make progress towards the project goal, while others fight the fire of the pressing issue.
• Active Risk Mitigation: Everyone knows that running can take a toll on your body. If you notice a small blister forming early in the race, take time to treat it. If ignored, a blister could quickly develop into a much bigger issue—it may even prevent you from finishing. To avoid a possible handicap while implementing a business transformation, define possible risks, their likelihood of success, and mitigation strategies up front. Address issues early—even before they arise if possible. If two companies are merging, for example, be aware that it is very likely that there could be some sensitive culture integration challenges. To actively mitigate this, organize some informal mixers as well as some formal meetings to discuss, share, and celebrate the unique core values of each company. This two-pronged strategy could help facilitate opportunities for employees of each company to meet, mingle and start to understand each other.
• Discipline: This one is easy to describe, but difficult to consistently implement. Discipline is achieved by managing distractions, keeping sight of the goal, and pacing (don't start too fast, never move too slow).

5. Celebration
Once you have successfully executed your plan to achieve the goal remember to celebrate: high five your team, pat yourself on the back, shout it from the rooftops. You did it! Mini celebrations along the way are also great. As you achieve a milestone, don't let it go unnoticed. Perhaps you came through the halfway point of the marathon at the exact pace you had planned for, your body is feeling strong, and you are well hydrated. Take a moment to savor that accomplishment. Upon completion of the marathon, wear your medal with pride and stand tall. In business, celebrations are also important—both along the way, and at the end of a transformation. If you need to migrate four legacy systems into one CRM, there will certainly be some big milestones along the way that are worth celebration.

6. Recovery
The celebration is not (sadly) the end of the race or the project. In both scenarios, there are kinks to resolve and issues to deal with. After the marathon, make sure you stretch, hydrate, tend to your injuries, and massage sore muscles. In business, expect and plan for a stabilization period after you launch. Often there are still defects to address or some post-launch communication/training to coordinate. People don't learn from experience; they learn from reflecting on their experience. The recovery phase is the perfect time to reflect on the execution of steps 1 through 5. Define what went well and where there are opportunities to improve for next time. Once you have reflected on your learnings, you will not only be ready to tackle your next challenge, but run further and faster as well.

One final observation about the similarities between racing and implementing changes at work: in both cases you can't control all the conditions. Nobody wants to run a marathon in the rain, but it happens. The economy is always shifting, most often due to influences beyond our scope of power. In economic downturns, businesses still need to expertly implement strategic initiatives. Control what you can by following this six-step process to ensure success in both your running and your professional career.

Sara Fritch is a Senior Manager at ACME Business Consulting in Portland, Ore. She is also an avid runner, having qualified for the Boston Marathon in 2012.