article thumbnail

5 Ways the Best Companies Close the Strategy-Execution Gap

Harvard Business

Leadership then specifies a plan that it believes will position the company to win in this predicted future. This mindset focuses leadership on making near-term decisions with the longer-term destination in mind, but it doesn’t presume that there is only one path from here to there. Webvan was forced to cease operations by 2001.

article thumbnail

The Connection Between Employee Trust and Financial Performance

Harvard Business

This was the headquarters of Campbell Soup Company when one of us, Doug Conant, took the reins as CEO in 2001. We can use practices from Doug’s approach to the trust-building competency over his 40-year leadership career as a case study for the behaviors leaders should develop as they work to build and sustain trust.