What Good Execution Looks Like

"The other day I was talking with one of my directs. We ended up discussing something we've both learned over the years. When execution works, the environment is quiet. Not slow. Not passive. Quiet. Execution happens. People work together. Nothing feels heavy. You sort of question if there's management in all this or their very existence. That's a good thing. Maybe, one of the best signals of good management."

"On the flip side, you can immediately tell when the management isn't good. Projects stall or never finish. You will see extra approvals appear. Processes get thicker. People start checking in more than they need to. Updates become defensive. The number of meetings increases. All of this is a reaction to a simple problem. The management can't execute the work. Hence, people try to do it themselves."

"Quiet is not the lack of activity. Quiet is what good execution looks like. The system isn't fighting itself. In my mind, It's the ultimate sign that direction, trust, and rhythm are in place. In this post, I'll talk about foundations of good execution, signs of it and lastly a few metrics to lean into to measure it."

Good execution produces a quiet environment where work proceeds smoothly and collaboration feels effortless. Quiet does not mean inactivity; it means the system is not fighting itself and direction, trust, and rhythm exist. Poor management leads to stalled projects, extra approvals, thicker processes, excessive check-ins, defensive updates, and more meetings. Lack of direction, ownership, and decision-making fundamentals causes unclear roles, shifting priorities, hesitation to act, low trust, hidden mistakes, and noise without progress. Strong execution depends on disciplined fundamentals such as clarity of direction, ownership, and reliable decision making.

Read at Yusuf Aytas