There is no shortage of ideas out there. Read a book, attend a conference, or log onto LinkedIn, and we walk away with plenty of inspiration. Execution is where the struggle can be. 

Why is that? If we know what we need to do (or at least what has worked for others), why do we have trouble, well, doing it?

There are barriers, external and internal. 

One of the biggest barriers is perfectionism. People don’t like to fall short or make mistakes. So it is not unusual to wait for the perfect plan, the perfect timing, or the perfect set of conditions. The problem is, perfect rarely arrives. And in the meantime, momentum stalls. 

Another barrier to execution is analysis paralysis. Overthinking feels productive, but it often leads to procrastination and overwhelm. When we’re in this headspace, it’s easy to fall into what I call “one more thing”–from more books to more articles to more online searches for videos.

Anyone else go down rabbit holes? I sure do. We gather more advice. We hold more meetings. We tweak the plan again.

I fall into the trap of thinking I am making progress when I am not.

An additional barrier is focusing more on the obstacles versus focusing on the opportunities.

I love the book “The Fifth Discipline” by Peter Senge. My takeaway is that people who keep their eye on the goal are very likely to achieve it or, at minimum, come close.

People who focus on the obstacles more than the goal will go slowly, stop, and rationalize why not to move forward.

Yes, obstacles are real — from time to money to people. However, get-it-done people focus on the goal and move through the obstacles. 

For me, the ego can get in the way: It’s not my idea. I tried it, and it did not work. What if they did it, and it worked, but I do it, and it doesn’t? It’s better to acknowledge that there may be a better way of doing things. Ego quietly undermines progress because it keeps action from taking place.

  Here are some suggestions to move into some let’s-get-it-done actions.

1. Ask, “What can I do right now?” You may not always be able to control others’ actions, but you can control your own. One person’s choosing action over excuses can change a team’s trajectory. I’ve seen it happen many times.

2. Adopt “good enough” action. Aim for 80 percent. As the saying goes, progress beats perfection. You can adjust along the way, but you can’t improve what you never start.

3. Simplify the plan. Break large goals into immediate next steps. What can be done this week? Today? Clarity reduces overwhelm.

4. Get into traffic. I’ve learned that life rewards action.

Make the call. Send the text. Be the first to reach out, because small forward motion builds momentum.

5. Stop waiting for ideal timing. Do what you can right now with what you have. Rarely are conditions perfect. Action creates better conditions.

6. Build in accountability. Execution improves when progress is visible. Measure what matters, set check-ins, and celebrate movement (not just outcomes).

If we want better results, we often don’t need more ideas. We need better habits–ones that reward action, embrace feedback, and move us forward even when conditions aren’t perfect.leadership.

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Quint Studer is the author of 16 books on leadership in the workplace and the community. His book “Building a Vibrant Community” is a valuable resource for civic leaders, business owners, and all citizens who have a stake in building a community. He can be reached at Quint@QuintStuder.com.