Why Strategy Fails Without Culture and Engagement
- apens1212
- Apr 24
- 3 min read
And what leaders can do about it By Abby Penston | Founder, myexec
We often hear that culture eats strategy for breakfast and yet, many organisations still treat culture and engagement as the "soft stuff" that can be addressed later. The truth? You can craft the most brilliant strategy in the world, but if your people aren’t aligned, motivated, and empowered, it won’t get off the ground.
The Strategy-Execution Gap: A Leadership Blind Spot
According to Harvard Business Review, 67% of well-formulated strategies fail due to poor execution. Not because the strategy was flawed, but because the people responsible for delivering it weren’t engaged or equipped.
Further research from Gallup shows that only 23% of employees worldwide are engaged in their work. That means 77% of your workforce could be disconnected from the very strategy you’re relying on them to deliver.
That’s not just a cultural issue, it’s a commercial risk.
The Risk of Getting It Wrong
When strategy is rolled out without genuine engagement or cultural alignment, the consequences go beyond a few missed KPIs:
Wasted investment in transformation initiatives that never take root
High employee turnover as people lose faith in direction and leadership
Siloed departments, duplication of effort, and internal resistance
Loss of market competitiveness as execution stalls and innovation is stifled
Leadership credibility erosion when people hear strategy but don’t see follow-through
According to McKinsey, 70% of transformation efforts fail, often due to lack of employee engagement and poor change leadership. That failure doesn’t just impact morale, it can affect your reputation, your bottom line, and your ability to attract top talent.
Why Culture and Engagement Matter
Let’s break it down:
Engaged teams are 21% more profitable (Gallup)
Companies with strong cultures see a 4x increase in revenue growth (Forbes)
70% of employees say they’re more engaged when senior leadership communicates a clear strategy and vision (IBM)
When teams feel connected to the mission, understand the ‘why,’ and trust their leaders, they’re far more likely to take ownership, collaborate, and drive results.
Strategy Is Not a Document — It’s a Shared Mindset
At myexec, we work with leadership teams who know the stakes are high. Whether they’re navigating growth, transformation, or market entry, the success of their strategy depends not just on planning, but on people.
We focus on helping leaders:
Communicate strategy clearly and consistently
Align behaviours and values to strategic goals
Build cultures of trust, accountability, and learning
Engage middle management as drivers of delivery, not just recipients of change
Real Impact Starts With Leadership
Culture starts at the top. If you’re not investing in your leadership team’s ability to live and breathe the strategy and engage others in doing the same, the strategy remains just that: a plan on paper.
The most successful leaders I’ve worked with don’t just launch strategies; they activate them by embedding them into the daily rhythm of the business, team meetings, 1:1s, recognition, and feedback loops.
What Next?
If your strategy is stalling, ask yourself:
Do your team members know where they fit in?
Are your managers equipped to lead through change?
Is your culture helping or hindering delivery?
Because when strategy and culture move together, execution stops being a challenge, and starts becoming a competitive advantage.
Want to talk about aligning your team behind your strategy? Let’s chat: www.myexec.uk
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