Once upon a time, executives would go to an off-site brainstorming session, come back with a multiyear strategic plan, and hand it off to their employees to dutifully execute. But in today's world of rapid, disruptive change, it's hard enough to come up with a five-month plan, let alone a five-year plan. As one executive interviewed by author Laura Stack put it, 'You prepare a strategic plan and then put it on the shelf, while the real world passes you by.'

Nowadays, strategy can't be separate from execution it has to emerge from execution. New technologies, sudden changes in global markets, and viral customer reactions to new products require quick, nimble response sometimes even a complete strategic 180. But if your organization isn't set up to be fast on its feet, you could easily go the way of Blockbuster or Borders.

Stack shows you how to make sure your organization is ready for on-the-spot strategic execution. Her L-E-A-D Formula explains how to leverage the people and resources you need to create an agile organization; establish an environment where your employees are confident and capable enough to take the initiative and make on-the-fly changes; ensure that your team is in alignment with the organization's goals, so they'll make the right strategic choices; and remove obstacles, so they can drive the organization forward quickly.

Of course, you'll still need to have a great strategy in place, but your goals must be subject to constant readjustment and revision. You have to work with your team to build effective business strategies in real time, not be bound by a plan that may be out of date as soon as it rolls off the printer. Execution really is the strategy that will propel your organization forward, and Laura Stack can help you build an organization ready to meet the challenge of constant change.