Strategy and Execution... Which is More Important?

Bill Walsh, Hall of Fame football coach, passed away this week. Walsh is one of my favorite examples to use from the sports world when talking about business. Yes, he was a strategic genius, responsible for inventing the West Coast offense. But the three things I'll always remember Walsh for are...

1. His demeanor. He was quiet and thoughtful, not a blowhard like so many other coaches. There's more than one way to skin a cat, and there's certainly more than one way to teach and motivate your employees.
2. His coaching legacy. Not only was he a great coach, he was a great mentor. There have been 28 other head coaches in the NFL and college who were his assistant coaches, and they have won 8 Super Bowls.
3. His ability to be a strategic innovator who could lead world class execution. My favorite story about Walsh is the fact that he used to "script" the first 10-15 plays of the game on offense. The strategic options were endless, and he and his coaches would spend many, many hours preparing strategically for a game. But when the time came, he made a decision and had his team practice and perfect 10-15 plays that were going to be run to start the game. This commitment and focus on excellence in execution resulted in his teams getting off to fast starts, and building momentum that was almost impossible for opponents to overcome.