“The best leadership teams have purpose, they are aligned on their strategic objectives, they are a high performing team and have change leadership skills to navigate 4IR.”
— Peter F Gallagher
Collaborative teams not only generate better ideas and work more efficiently, but they also share the workload more evenly, make quicker decisions, and build higher levels of trust. The key to this success is alignment. Team alignment benefits organizations by fostering a cohesive and motivated workforce, which translates to higher productivity and better outcomes. A study from Harvard Business Review found that organizations with high levels of trust have 50% higher productivity and 75% more engagement.
What is Team Alignment?
Team alignment is the process of ensuring that all members of a team are unified in their understanding and commitment to the team's Purpose, Values, Vision, Goals, Priorities, and Roles. When a team is aligned, everyone is clear about what needs to be done, why it matters, and how they contribute to the overall objectives. This alignment fosters a cohesive work environment where collaboration, efficiency, trust, and decision-making are enhanced, ultimately driving the team toward greater success.
How Do You Know If Your Team is Out of Alignment? And Why it Matters.
When a team is out of alignment, the consequences can be detrimental to both the team's effectiveness and the organization's overall success. Misalignment leads to confusion about priorities and roles, causing inefficiencies and duplicated efforts. Team members may feel disconnected from the shared purpose and goals, resulting in lower motivation and engagement. This lack of cohesion hinders collaboration and can create friction and misunderstandings, reducing the team's ability to innovate and make swift decisions. Furthermore, misaligned teams often experience a breakdown in trust, as individuals may feel unsupported or undervalued, leading to higher turnover rates and a negative impact on morale. Ultimately, an out-of-alignment team struggles to achieve its objectives, compromising the organization's ability to compete and grow in a dynamic business environment.
Team alignment is the key to unlocking one's full potential and achieving exceptional results, but how can you tell if your team is out of alignment?
Intégro’s research on team alignment shows unequivocally that alignment cannot be achieved without a high level of trust. When trust is low, team members don’t feel comfortable having the types of open conversations required to achieve high levels of alignment.
How to Measure and Analyze Alignment
Organizations can measure their teams’ current levels of alignment through the Team Alignment Survey (THC is a licensed associate of the Integro Leadership Institute)
There are 6 key factors that teams need to be in alignment on:
1. Purpose – why the team exists
2. Values – how team members behave
3. Vision – what the team will be doing and have achieved at a point in time
4. Goals – how the team will measure success in working towards the vision
5. Priorities – what is most important to focus on now
6. Roles – who on the team is responsible for what
In order to determine the level of alignment on each of these six factors, Clarity and Approval are measured in the Team Alignment Survey. The reason this is tested is that team members cannot be in alignment with an organization’s vision and goals, for example, if they are not clear about what they are and if they don’t approve (or buy into) them.
Want to find out how well your team is aligned? Contact The Heffelfinger Company to access the THC. Once your team has completed the 15-minute survey, we can identify the specific steps your team members need to take in order to increase the alignment and trust in the team.
Build High-Performance Teams Through Alignment
Building high-performance teams through team alignment is a strategic approach that can transform the way teams operate and achieve their objectives. By focusing on Purpose, Values, Vision, Goals, Priorities, and Roles, organizations can create cohesive, motivated, and high-performing teams. The benefits of alignment are far-reaching, impacting innovation, efficiency, decision-making, trust, and overall performance. Investing in team alignment is investing in the future success of the organization.
Steps to Achieve Team Alignment
Building team alignment is an ongoing process that requires deliberate effort and attention. Here are some steps to achieve and maintain alignment:
Communicate regularly. Effective communication is vital for alignment. Regular meetings, updates, and check-ins ensure that everyone is informed and on the same page.
Set clear expectations. Clearly articulate the team's purpose, values, vision, goals, priorities, and roles. Ensure that every team member understands and agrees with these elements.
Foster a collaborative culture. Encourage collaboration and open communication. Create an environment where team members feel comfortable sharing ideas and feedback (trust).
Align individual goals with team goals. Ensure that individual performance goals are aligned with the team's objectives. This alignment helps in driving collective efforts towards common goals.
Monitor and adjust. Review the team's progress regularly and make adjustments as needed. Be open to feedback and willing to make changes to improve alignment.
Recognize and reward alignment. Acknowledge and reward behaviors that contribute to alignment. Recognition reinforces the importance of working together toward common goals.
Focus Strategically Across Organizational Levels
At Heffelfinger Company, we specialize in guiding business leaders to strategically enhance their organization's performance by improving team alignment at every level. Our comprehensive approach ensures that all team members are unified in their understanding of the company's Purpose, Values, Vision, Goals, Priorities, and Roles. By fostering this alignment, we help businesses streamline their operations, boost collaboration, and drive innovation. Our tailored solutions not only address immediate challenges but also build a foundation for sustainable success. With our expertise, leaders can cultivate a cohesive, motivated, and high-performing workforce, empowering their organizations to thrive in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
Warmly,
Lori & James
Lori Heffelfinger & James Jackman
Source:
Paul J. Zak. The Neuroscience of Trust - Management behaviors that foster employee engagement. January-February 2017. https://hbr.org/2017/01/the-neuroscience-of-trust. Accessed 5/17/2024.
