The Reality of New Business Development in Large Corporations #4: Execution Ability

Who should read this article

People who are even slightly interested in what new business development in large corporations is like
People who want to take on the challenge of new business in a large corporation
People who want to try building a system to generate new businesses within a large corporation

While the main themes of this note are "self-understanding," "introspection," and "side hustles," I would also like to write down what I have learned about new business development, where I have spent most of my career. This is the "Reality of New Business Development in Large Corporations" series.

In previous articles, I wrote about "Willpower" and "Involvement Ability" out of the three skills required for theme owners in new business development at large corporations.

1. Willpower

2. Involvement Ability

This time, I will talk about the third skill, "Execution Ability."

This execution ability is often rephrased as "proactivity." In the startup world, you often hear expressions like "their volume of action is amazing!" or "they are constantly moving!"

However, in my experience, I think it ultimately comes down to the "ability to do the obvious things in an obvious way."
Let's dig a little deeper into this point.

This is not limited to new businesses, and you might have experienced this yourself, but haven't you ever felt like, "I know I should do it, but I can't move"?

For example, putting off high-priority work to start something else, or skipping preparation before a meeting and attending without sharing the goal.

In your head, you know, "I should do this work immediately" or "I should prepare properly before the meeting and tell the members the goal." But when you actually try to take action, it doesn't go well.

Of course, the reasons for not being able to act differ from situation to situation, and external factors can also be involved.

But I think this feeling of "I know it in my head, but execution is difficult" is something you see often, not just in work but in personal life as well.

Once you have gained a certain amount of experience, I think there are times when you intuitively know what to do next without having to build up the logic every time.
However, I feel that whether or not you can actually move from there is the dividing line for whether you are suitable as a theme owner.

Excluding cases where the factors hindering action are clear and beyond your control, I will introduce some effective means to increase your "execution ability = the ability to do the obvious things in an obvious way." I think the effect will increase as the numbers progress.

1. Verbally declare what you are trying to do to colleagues and friends around you

2. While declaring it, leave it as a document and show it to your boss and teammates

3. Form a team to move forward and ensure that the results of your actions affect those around you

I believe that by implementing these, you can increase your own execution ability.

Also, as another aspect of execution ability,

"Instead of looking for reasons why you can't do it, look for a path to do it"

This way of thinking is important.

The difference between the type that looks for reasons why they can't do it and the type that looks for reasons why they can do it can be organized as follows.

1. The type that looks for reasons why it can't be done (incremental approach)

Benefits
・Risk avoidance: You can avoid reckless challenges, resulting in fewer failures
・Steady progress: By building on realistic options, you can achieve solid results
・High sense of self-satisfaction: You feel psychologically stable because you choose a path you are convinced of

Risks and Disadvantages
・Hard to reach big goals: Often lacks the power to make a leap
・Easy to miss opportunities: Tends to pass up uncertain opportunities
・Action tends to be delayed: Speed drops because you don't move until you are convinced

1. The type that looks for ways to make it happen (pioneering approach)

Benefits
・Increased opportunities for challenge: Broadens the range of options
・High speed: Increases the volume of action with a "do it even if it's not perfect" stance
・Easier to generate innovation: Can carve out new paths without being bound by frameworks

Risks and Disadvantages
・Potential for more failures: More trial and error leads to more wasted effort
・Tends to be unstable: Acting without visible results can easily lead to hesitation
・Hard to gain understanding from others: Unprecedented challenges can sometimes lead to isolation

In short, while both have their pros and cons, I believe that in new business development, there are many situations that require the "2. Look for ways to make it happen" type of approach.

This is because in new business, the "correct options or actions" are not always visible.

That is why only those who can move forward while carrying a sense of ambiguity are strong.

Furthermore, I feel that by working as a team, resilience (recovery and endurance) against that ambiguity increases, making it easier to take that next step.

How far can you move forward on your own feet, even in an unstable situation?

That may be the most important skill in new business development.

So far, I have introduced three skills required of a theme owner when launching a new business.

1. Willpower (WILL)

2. Ability to involve others

3. Execution capability

I believe that without talent possessing these three skills, a new business will not be able to get off the ground.

Systems and organizational culture may also be issues, but even if those are in place, if the team lacks these three skills, the theme might not move forward.

Please take a look at your theme from that perspective at least once.