An effective execution process is commonly the missing link preventing organizations with strong leadership, culture, and teams from reaching their potential. Master the art of execution (MAX), when installed completely and used consistently well, ties the five strategies for mastering execution together. You now have the outline for a skill set that can make you more valuable and will help you add more value in any position or industry, and that you can use to reap greater rewards as you pursue your personal goals as well:

1. Get TUF!
2. MAX It!
3. MAP It!
4. RAM It!
5. Prune It!

This MAX process requires changing your focus, thinking, and behaviors. It may also create discomfort as it intensely focuses behaviors and lays bare individual performances, all while strengthening accountability on a daily basis. Any ensuing discomfort or pain a new process like MAX brings on serves you well, because pain and discomfort are both essential to growth. People don't grow in a comfort zone—they plateau. Besides, the discomfort and pain a new execution process brings on pales in comparison with the ongoing agony of missing one's potential and of eventual mediocrity. It's painful either way, so pick your poison. As Jim Rohn said, “You can either choose the pain of discipline or the pain of regret” (quoted in Manuel 2013).

Once you get the leaders, culture, and team right, you are positioned to maximize any process, and MAX is no exception. On the other hand, without getting the leaders, culture, and team right, even the best processes are marginalized. Going forward, keep the following in mind concerning the roles of each of the four key entities of execution:

• The leaders are responsible for shaping the culture, attracting the right people, and implementing the right processes.
• Culture assists in attracting the right people and determines the behaviors and results they produce. It also must support any process for it to be effective.
• A team, when working within the disciplines of an effective execution process supported by both strong leadership and culture, will consistently execute over their heads. Without a doubt, the combination of right leader, culture, team, and process creates a perfect storm of force-multiplying results that consistently leads to optimal performance.

However, the weakest link in any of the four strategies for mastering the art of execution will determine the overall effectiveness of the others. All four strategies need consistent infusions of attention, time, and resources to offset the natural pull of complacency and entropy. Ultimately, this responsibility lies with the leader. Your speed will determine the organization's speed; when you catch cold, it will come down with pneumonia. Just so we keep it real: if your culture, team, or process gets off track, you are the problem. Do not look out the window for blame. Gaze in the mirror and take responsibility. Then fix it. See? It's not rocket science!