Do you need an alignment?

We all know what it is like to drive a car that has an alignment issue. The steering wheel shakes; the car pulls to one side; perhaps it even makes some unsettling noises. 

The same can be said for your business or team if there isn’t proper alignment.  

Alignment begins with a vision that is well defined and motivating. What is your team working towards long term? Your vision should elicit emotion and inspire everyone to continue to push towards the goal. It should feel grand and aspirational - like reaching the peak of a mountain.  

Once you’ve determined your vision, it’s time to decide how you’re going to get there as a team. Say it with me… STRATEGY! If we are going to effectively climb this mountain, we can’t have people wandering off on their own path. The team has to move together as a group in the same direction. For the strategy to be effective, the contributors should be able to clearly see how this connects to the vision, and their role in helping to achieve it. 

Your vision and strategy will only be effective if it is well communicated. You might meet some new people on your journey up the mountain (new hires) who need to be just as aware of this vision and strategy as the group who started at the base of the mountain. The leaders have to continue to keep everyone motivated and working towards the common goal. Never assume that just because someone is walking in the right direction they ‘understand’ what we are working towards, and their direct impact. 

As a team, we have to check in on each other - regularly! Vision and strategy are not to be set and then forgotten. Leadership has to continually validate that all members are on the same path, and are pulling their weight. Setting short term, measurable goals is key. Being aware of, and limiting distractions, and other obstacles that could get in the way of your team achieving the vision is your duty as a leader. 

So what happens if you don’t take the time to align your team? For a little while, everything could seem ok. Afterall, you’ve hired smart people who know how to do their jobs effectively based on their prior experience. The main problem here is that they will be executing on their vision - which likely won’t be aligned to the vision you’ve set for your business. 

Similarly to your car, the wear and tear is going to start to show. Communication lines will break down. Multiple visions will start to bubble up with vast amounts of strategies on how to achieve them. Suddenly, you’ll have people all over the mountain -- some walking up, some going sideways. The ability for everyone to get back on the same page will be more difficult. Irreparable harm is a significant possibility at this stage. 

Take the time now to ensure this doesn’t happen. Vision, strategy, goals and communication are foundational for every business and team to operate effectively.