Individual output may be personal. The larger outcome, however, is always a team alignment effort. Unless you are running a one-man show, you are dependent on those that work by your side. And making sure that this team is unified and working together to the best of their abilities should be a no-brainer. That’s where team alignment comes in.
“Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.” – Andrew Carnegie
An aligned team is a team who aspires to achieve the same vision, understands company goals, and is made up of individuals who understand how to contribute their unique strengths to achieve these mutually agreed-upon outcomes. When people are aligned to do what needs to get done, productivity goes through the roof. The many become one.
During the team alignment process, it is vital to define and agree on the shared goal and vision that drives your company. If you don’t know where you are going, then there really is no reason to start planning how to get there. Discussing and agreeing on a meaningful mutual goal allows your team to communicate around issues, which pulls them into a shared collaborative process that encourages buy-in and commitment. This is the magic bullet that gets results. Your team will be more willing to compromise and trust one another when they are aligned on mutual goals and agreed on what it takes to get there.
Without alignment, each department works independently with its own goals, information, and technology applications. We call this a siloed organization, with everybody pulling in different directions – and getting nowhere. The team alignment process increases collaboration, which in turn increases productivity and morale, and ensures that teams deliver. Alignment then becomes a powerful competitive advantage for organizations that choose to use it.
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WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE TEAM ALIGNMENT
- In SMME’s the vision, strategy and objectives/goals of the company are often owned and understood only by owners and higher-level managers. Middle management and lower-level team members do not have an appreciation for or an insight into the BIG PICTURE and long-term goals. Team alignment should be seen as an opportunity to get buy-in, commitment and an enthusiasm to achieve from your whole team.
- As a business grows and employees are brought in to perform specific job functions and tasks, they may not appreciate the overall purpose of the business and have only a limited and narrow view – in which their specific job is the most important.
- The business owner’s vision is internalized and needs to be shared and understood by everyone in the organisation, however small or large.
- Alignment, therefore, mobilises this process and brings employees, staff, and owners together to understand why the business operates and how and when various functions work in harmony to service the customer through products and services.
- This session will be separate to the previously mentioned Coachings.The coach co-facilitates a workshop with the business owner to position the strategy, purpose, mission, vision, values, objectives, and goals of the business.
Accomplishing an organization’s vision and mission should be among the top priorities of owners and managers. One of the deciding factors in achieving this is proper team alignment, as a unified team working towards the same goal is an unstoppable force.
Team alignment means positioning the culture and leadership of your company team, focusing equally on the following vital elements:
- A common vision
- Goals and objectives. This means defining what you want to achieve together as a team.
- Define the rules of the game, and the behavior that you find desirable.
- Agree on an action plan, and ensure adequate resources & training in order to achieve these plans.
- Identify risks and barriers – what can prevent us from succeeding?
- Define individual commitments, inclusion and involvement. Who is accountable and responsible?
When the team wins, so do you. Set up a meeting today, and let’s work towards aligning your team goals and vision.
If you need to upgrade your business toolbox, reach out to our coaches
FAQ
- Creates trust and commitment amongst team members.
- Boosts creativity and performance.
- Increases productivity.
- Improves communication.
- Ensures higher employee engagement and retention.
- Encourages faster decision-making.
- Increased agility to respond to external forces
Team alignment is critical, as it enables you to have all people working in one direction, fulfilling the business’s vision of how the business delivers its product or services. It increases productivity, improves communication, ensures higher employee engagement and retention, faster decision-making, and increased agility to respond to external forces.
The owner is directly responsible and authorized to deliver this quality standard.
- Identify the behavior you wish to achieve in your business.
- Be open to feedback from the team, listen to their concerns, and try to identify the disconnect.
- Offer support to the team.
- Create a meaningful set of company values.
- Improve your leadership communication skills.
- Employ for culture and ensure culture is highlighted in your onboarding/orientation of new team members.
- Continuously support and reinforce skills development within the new team.
- You need your team in order to achieve your vision.
- You cannot and should not do everything yourself.
- You must work on the business and not IN the business.
We as coaches will co-facilitate with the business leader.
An organization where teams or departments are moving in different directions, rather than in the same direction toward a common goal. All too often this leads to decreased engagement, increased frustration, and a lack of momentum. It can also negatively impact their productivity and could create potential conflicts between team members.
From leadership down to the most junior level of employees.
Never assume your team is aligned. Every 4 months it is healthy to reassess and ensure your team is in alignment. In addition, if new people are employed or if a product or service changes, then the process needs to be reassessed.