From Strategy To Reality Through Better Operations | Ben Chappell

A strategy you can't deliver isn't ambitious; it's wishful thinking. Mike sits down with Ben Chappell, founder of Cove Ops, to get brutally practical about the gap between strategy and execution and why “operations” is the missing piece in so many SMEs that are scaling, preparing for investment, or gearing up for a sale.

We unpack how strategy drift happens when teams go back to business as usual, mistaking constant activity for progress. Ben reframes strategy as intent and a daily decision rubric, then shows how operations turn that intent into reality through an operating model that actually works. We dig into the real pain signals of poor operations, from duplicated data entry and broken handovers to missed deadlines, customer impact, and the quiet burnout caused by endless workarounds.

You will also hear why investors and buyers look beyond the spreadsheet: financial results are lagging indicators, so confidence comes from leading metrics, clear workflows, visibility, and a business that is not held together by a few heroes. We explore AI and automation with a sober lens, starting with first-principles diagnosis, then building capacity so people can do the human work: collaboration, problem-solving, and continuous improvement. If you want practical ideas on systems thinking, standardisation, knowledge management, and running change like an experiment, this one is for you.

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Connect with Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-chappell/

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🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast

📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality

Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/