(Newswire.net — September 15, 2018) — How many times have you come into the office expecting something to have been done a certain way, only to find out that your employees totally misinterpreted what you asked and gave you a result starkly different than what you intended? Or how often do you have employees ask you questions that are so off-base, you wonder if they’re even thinking on the correct plane.
It doesn’t get discussed enough at leadership conferences or in management books, but one of the fundamental keys to business success is ensuring that your team is on the same page. Without this sort of congruency at the foundation, it’s impossible to achieve the results you’re seeking.
Practical Ways to Enhance Internal Alignment
Ridgeline Partners, a leading management consulting firm, has worked with hundreds of businesses and entrepreneurs over the years. And despite the uniqueness of each organization, they’ve discovered that the friction is often quite similar in nature.
“Our foundational premise is that the greatest challenges organizations face do not originate from external threats, rather they stem from internal sources. These internal conflicts can greatly hinder an organization’s ability to align, adapt and respond to obstacles as they inevitably arise,” Ridgeline Partners explains.
Curt Cronin and John Joseph, the co-founders of Ridgeline Partners, are firm in their belief that internal misalignments and resistance are a major source of failure and prevent organizations from meeting tactical and strategic objectives.
You may not have given the idea of internal alignment much thought before, but you need to recognize just how significant this issue is for your business. In fact, here are some specific ways you can make sure your team is on the same page in everything it does.
1. Involve Everyone in the Planning Process
One of the reasons you have no trouble staying on track is that you are the one who develops the plans and strategies that are being executed. You were there in the beginning, so you know the original intentions, goals, and steps by heart. But what about your employees? If they were thrown into the mix after the fact, they aren’t afforded the same benefits.
For optimal alignment, involve each person in the planning process. This puts everyone on the same page and helps employees feel more invested in the plan. It also promotes a greater sense of collaboration and removes the temptation of employees to view managers as dictators.
2. Put Plans and Objectives in Writing
It’s easy to forget or misinterpret something when it’s expressed verbally. It’s much harder to get confused when something is visible. Having said that, put all plans and objectives in writing so they can easily be seen by everyone at all times.
3. Over-Communicate Everything
Your employees don’t know what you want if you don’t explicitly tell them. No matter how long you’ve been together, they don’t possess mind-reading skills. Expecting them to make big assumptions is unwise and inappropriate.
“Share your thoughts with your team members. Gather their feedback. Repeat things, especially important items,” says Jason Shah, founder of a collaboration platform for businesses. “People have a tendency to forget what they need to do, particularly if things are busy around the office. When meaningful discourse is taking place, you’ll know you’re communicating effectively.”
4. Align Individual Incentives With Company Goals
“As selfless as you want your employees to be, they’ll always prioritize their interests over the company’s,” entrepreneur Matt Blumberg writes. “If those interests are aligned – especially when it comes to compensation – this reality of human nature simply won’t be a problem.”
The best way to keep employees on the same page is to align their individual incentives with company-wide goals. This gives them additional motivation to stay the course – beyond simply being told that they have to.
Make the Most of What You Have
As Ridgeline Partners puts it, the greatest challenges businesses face often come from within. By increasing internal alignment and getting your team on the same page, you can lower your chances of failure and accelerate the pursuit of your core business objectives and goals. Now is the time to lean in and address this issue before it becomes a major source of contention.