Execution debt is the gap between what you said you would do and what your system can realistically support.It builds quietly. A few missed follow ups. A few half finished projects. A few decisions that were made verbally but never recorded. A few tasks with no owner. Over time, the debt compounds. New work becomes slower because the base is unstable. People spend more time asking questions than making progress. You get more meetings, not more outcomes.The hardest part is that execution debt does not show up in your strategy document. It shows up in your calendar. If you want to reduce it, start by making work visible. Track ownership. Close loops. Finish fewer things better. Create a place where decisions live and can be referenced.For the root cause, read Strategy Isnt the Problem. Its Execution. For the symptom pattern, read Why Everything Feels Urgent but Nothing Moves. For the structure that prevents it, read What a Brand Operating System Is.
