We work with organisation leaders who are focused on growth but have become frustrated with not achieving what they set out to. They’ve done the work on “The Plan”, they know what they want to achieve but are stuck behind an invisible barrier that’s getting in the way of achieving success.
Time and time again that invisible barrier is alignment, and many organisation leaders overlook the importance of it and the power it has in unlocking growth potential.
But what does alignment really mean and how can it be achieved?
Put simply, alignment refers to having everything working in harmony, in sync with one another, meaning:
- An organisation’s goals and objectives are directly aligned to its strategy.
- Team objectives are aligned & collectively ensure the delivery of organisational objectives.
- Individual objectives are aligned – ensuring the delivery of the teams objectives.
- Internal ways of working support sales and service expectations being delivered.
- People & processes support cohesive working, driving productivity and efficiency.
When all these areas are working in tandem, organisations are in the best position to drive growth. They are also well placed to adapt to changes more easily, and decision making becomes easier.
How do you align your organisation for growth?
1. Set a clear vision & goals
Having an overarching vision that paints a picture of where you want to get to and defines future goals is key. It ensures that everyone understands the bigger picture and how their individual roles contribute to achieving it.
2. Empower collaboration across teams
Break down silos and encourage teams to work together towards the achievement of common goals. This fosters a collaborative environment and leads to a more holistic approach to goal delivery meaning that the view of all areas of the organisation are represented, making change more likely to stick.
3. Prioritise communication
Transparent and open communication is so important. It builds trust and supports engagement as well as ensuring that everyone is kept updated. Having a mechanism to communicate easily, quickly and in different ways will help foster engagement but in a structured way.
4. Streamline Processes
Having consistent ways of working across the organisation is the first step to driving productivity and efficiency. Spending time reviewing and improving them to ensure everyone is working smartly and customer service expectations are being met is a great place to start. An added benefit is that training and onboarding of new employees will become easier once tasks are completed in a similar way by all.
5. Invest in employee development
A motivated team that is aligned with organisation goals can propel the business forward. Providing opportunities for employees to develop new skills and experience enables them to grow as individuals along with the organisation. Regularly discuss performance and development rather than it being a ‘process’ quarterly, 6-monthly or annually.
6. Measure, monitor & adjust
With clear objectives, comes the ability to measure what matters. Ensure that reporting of progress towards the delivery of objectives is in place and reviewed regularly. This will enable changes to be made when needed and keep everyone up to date with performance. It also enables an organisation to stay agile and responsive to evolving market conditions.
By truly understanding the importance of alignment and taking steps to achieve it, organisations can genuinely move quicker towards achieving their growth ambitions.
At Tandem we support organisations to align strategy, people and operations to achieve success.