Contributors: Suos Sovattana, Kimsan Kaknika, Voeurn Solyta, So Lyza
Dr. Virak Prum, Chairman and business law professor at CamEd Business School, shared his insights on strategy implementation. The CamEd Business Journalism Club had the chance to interview him right after his now popular CamEd Public Courseware seminars about key motivational and leadership factors in making strategies work, as well as the overall process of putting plans into action.
Strategy Implementation and Motivation
Dr. Virak explained that strategy implementation is not just about making a plan but making sure that the organization aligns its people, processes, and goals to carry it out effectively. He highlighted that motivation is important because employees who understand and believe in a company’s vision are more likely to work toward its goals. Leaders, he said, should create a work environment where employees feel valued and connected to the company’s success. To this point, he stressed the importance of constructive feedback in motivating employees by giving them a say in how the strategy should be implemented, whether there should be a change of plans, or even whether the strategy in question should continue to be pursued at all.
Strategy Implementation and Leadership
Leadership, according to Dr. Virak, is key to successful strategy execution. He emphasized that good leaders need both vision and flexibility. While having clear goals is important, they must also be able to adapt to unexpected challenges. He shared examples of companies that struggled because they stuck too rigidly to their original plans, compared to those that succeeded by adjusting based on market conditions. Open-mindedness and adaptability are key elements of what makes a great leader. Furthermore, he pointed out that great leaders are those people who can get out of their comfort zone to try new things and innovate.
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However, a strong and compelling vision will not amount to much without the ability to effectively communicate such a vision. Dr. Virak stressed the importance of communication. He said that clear and consistent messages from leaders help employees understand their roles in the bigger picture. Effective communication makes sure that everyone is working towards the same goal, reduces resistance to change, and helps teams stay strong in difficult situations. Moreover, he also emphasized that allowing constructive feedback among teams in an organization is a crucial aspect of effective leadership. Inputs from employees are always crucial to knowing the real situation and environment affecting strategy implementation which is why good leaders always allow feedback and dialogue within their teams and organizations.
In addition, organizations should also take the necessary risks to innovate and grow and thus, they cannot afford to be too overly cautious. Thus, good leadership involves not only giving subordinates the freedom to accomplish objectives on their own but also giving them the freedom to fail in those objectives as well. With failures come learning opportunities which are valuable for organizations seeking to innovate and grow. In Dr. Virak’s own words: “An organization which says that you cannot fail, that organization will never grow”.
Challenges in Strategy Implementation
When discussing common challenges in strategy implementation, Dr. Virak mentioned that many companies fail because of a lack of commitment from top management, limited resources, and resistance to change. To address these issues, he suggested that businesses invest in leadership training, create strong feedback systems, and build a company culture that welcomes change and continuous improvement.
Moreover, good organizational strategies should also have an “exit” when such strategies no longer work for the organization. Successful organizations are those that can adapt to changing circumstances and do not stick so rigidly to their original plans. In order for organizations to be effective and adaptable, there must be good feedback and communication within the organization, good resource coordination, and empowerment of employees to push the organization forward.
Concluding Remarks
Overall, Dr. Virak encourages future leaders to approach strategy implementation with a mix of careful planning and people-centered leadership. He reminds us that even the best strategy will only succeed if the people carrying it out are engaged and motivated. To this point, he said in our interview that “being a chairman doesn’t mean you are the most powerful guy”. What Dr. Virak said here was insightful as it shows the reality that people in leadership positions don’t always have all the answers, which usually is by no means a sign of weakness. But, he passionately stresses, “great leaders usually can make something seemingly out of nothing.”
No single person can effectively implement strategies affecting entire organizations by simply using superior intellect and wisdom to order their subordinates around. However, effective leaders are people who can implement strategies that involve everyone in their organizations who are in turn empowered to not only be able to execute those strategic goals effectively but also to strive for growth and innovation within their own organizations.
About Dr. Virak Prum
Dr. Virak Prum is Chairman of CamEd Business School. He is a highly respected law professor who has held leadership roles in most sectors including as dean of a law faculty, head of a legal department, senior political officer, and policy advisor for prominent organizations. He has published articles on decentralization, public administration, and climate change in peer-reviewed journals. In addition, Dr. Virak regularly writes opinion pieces on international economic law topics and is a sought-after speaker at conferences and workshops. As a hobby, he has published book reviews on prominent books on international relations. He used to give lectures at the former Royal Academy for Judicial Professions.
About CamEd Business Journalism Club
The CamEd Business Journalism Club was established in 2023 with the mission of imparting business knowledge to aspiring and seasoned professionals. We strive to generate curiosity about the business world via our events, interviews and articles which are presented through creative and engaging mediums to attract a broader audience.
