Using simple rules to achieve strategic objectives - Nuts and Bolts of Business

Physician Executive, May-June, 2003 by David P. Tarantino

How then, can we expect our troops to implement the strategy with a report of bullet points?

We can't.

In order for any strategy to be successful, you have to do what I've done in this column. Tell a story. Unlike with bullet points, people remember stories. That is because stories include visual images that stay in our memory.

So my advice on strategy is this:

1. Spend less time planning about strategy and more time acting on strategic objectives to achieve your critical success factors.

2. Develop simple rules that are easy to understand and remember.

3. Tell everybody who will listen the story of your strategy and how they can help.

David P. Tarantino, MD, MBA, is the executive medical director of Shock Trauma Associates, PA., a 50 physician, multispecialty practice associated with the University of Maryland School of Medicine. In addition, he is the chief executive officer of The MD Consulting Group, LW, a health care management consulting firm in Baltimore, Md. Tarantino can he reached hyphone at (410)328-3198 or by e-mail at tdoc5@aol.com.