How leaders can bridge the gap between vision and execution

"The announcement made headlines and thrilled investors, but behind the scenes, the organization wasn't prepared. Ted was given a skeletal team of two direct reports, a patchwork of third-party tools, and the mandate to partner with five global banking divisions serving more than 500 employees. He was expected to turn the AI vision into reality with little structural support."

"This tension is common-and survivable. Leaders who maintain credibility don't scrap such pledges or decry them. Instead, they manage the gap between promise and proof. A well-intentioned CEO may launch an initiative to signal innovation, but when systems or skills lag, ambition can outpace execution. We- Jenny, as an executive adviser and learning & development expert, and Kathryn, as an executive coach and keynote speaker-have identified five strategies to help executive teams navigate these moments with integrity and strategic foresight, especially when the initiative is more symbolic than substantive in its early stages."

Corporate announcements of AI and digital-first initiatives often precede the infrastructure, skills, and systems needed to deliver on them. A chief growth officer received a high-profile AI strategy announcement while being assigned only two direct reports, a patchwork of third-party tools, and responsibility across five global banking divisions and 500+ employees without adequate structural support. That mismatch between optics and operational readiness creates tension but can be managed. Leaders should preserve credibility by acknowledging gaps, balancing bold aspiration with candid honesty, and applying strategic foresight to convert symbolic pledges into substantive progress.

Read at Fast Company