Follow Through is Important

Following through on a decision or action is imperative for the organization.

Business planning and brainstorming becomes counterproductive if employees don’t see actions and the results. The same is true of new initiatives or policy changes. If people do not see that things have actually changed after new initiatives or policies have been discussed or announced, many negative reactions are possible. These can include poor morale, not taking these actions seriously in the future or lack of participation in meetings and processes.

The most important part of any initiative is sustained follow-up once it is rolled out. It is also important to recognize when an exercise or initiative has changed for a good reason and communicate why that initiative is stalled or is being taken in another direction or enhanced in some way.

It is far better to have fewer intiatives that are fully implemented than to have many initiatives and only half of them accomplished by year end.

Communicate accomplishments

Identify the initiatives you are going to act on and then advertise to the organization when you complete them. Significant initiatives spanning many months will benefit from periodic updates. This will build confidence, support and participation in building and changing your organization. This will be a virtuous circle as people become aware of change, support the change and push further change.

Build trust

Ultimately follow through is another way of building trust and confidence in the organization and leadership.

Related Best Practices

• Changing Your Organization
• Communications Best Practices

Resources

• Follow Through is Important...Especially in Business!, Cori Padgett, 2010.
• Leadership and the Importance of Follow Through, Emory Wells.
• Your Problem Isn't Motivation, Peter Bregman, Harvard Business Review, 2012.

Author

The author of this page is Joe Nordlinger

Joe Nordlinger is founder, President and CEO of Ascent a US based professional staffing firm. Ascent places highly skilled professionals in Technology, Business Professional & Pharma (Clinical & Scientific) positions—both contract and direct hire—at Fortune 1000, mid-size, and startup companies in a range of industries. Prior to Ascent, Joe was a business development manager for Cap Gemini-Ernst & Young and holds w Bachelor of Arts in International Political Economics from the University of California at San Diego.