Only 35% of executives believe their firm is aligned well (BCG, 2023). Unfortunately, protecting each other’s turf results in mistrust, siloed decisions, and weak strategy (Baro). This is a prime area for improvement to align the leaders, remove growth-hampering friction, and move the company forward.
The Costs of Poor Leadership Alignment
Bad alignment results in decision-making getting delayed or stuck in a cycle of never-ending choices or flip-flops.
• Plans are constantly rewritten
• Teams decide not to collaborate and cut each other out
• Morale drops as the “Us vs. Them” talk begins
Why Cross-Functional Collaboration Depends on a Common Language
Cross-functional teamwork is more important than ever for a company’s success. That requires a “common language” throughout the organization and the willingness of individuals to learn. A Forbes article, “Language Gaps Magnify Misunderstanding,” highlights the real-world impact of these gaps.
What right looks like:
- Communicate with clarity and timeline
- Understanding cross-departmental priorities
- Connect strategy to execution
The Pinnacle Framework + Military Planning: A Blueprint for alignment
Alignment and clarity are the result of weigh-in and buy-in from key stakeholders throughout the process and are revisited when needed. This isn’t code for letting everyone have a say or making decisions by consensus, but we have to realize A Players want many things, and topping the list is clear vision, alignment, and open communication.
With no one-size-fits-all, the Pinnacle Framework simplifies the design for our clients much like MDMP organizes and simplifies complex military operations. There is no checklist or fill-in-the-blank answer, but rather a process to know what good looks like and support the development of the client’s strategy with weigh-in, buy-in, and support from the team. The result is alignment at the top and successful rollout to every team member.
Why Keeping Leaders on the Same Page Matters
In the BCG report referenced above, a large organization saw about a 12% rise in revenue by simply selecting a single budgeting tool for all departments to use. It’s nice to be on your own island and feel “special,” but not at the expense of the organization’s success—and that includes toxic personal leadership or egos.
Practical steps to fix leadership and alignment gaps
- Quarterly workshops that aim to grade the previous quarter, resolve conflict, and get the company moving forward again.
- A Pinnacle Business Guide ensures every voice is heard, ideas are mixed, and a clear plan of action is developed.
- Meetings must serve a purpose, with the right audience and timing. Make it clear who the required attendees are and the purpose of the meeting. Are they for decisions or coordination? Otherwise, they swerve to the latest emergency.
- Ensure common operating vocabulary and goals. Forbes notes, “Language gaps magnify misunderstandings.” A common language has been attributed to raising quarterly revenue by about 8%.
Final Thought and Next Steps
Leadership owns alignment. It won’t solve every problem with cross-team collaboration, but it will get them closer to one shared purpose.
If your team is capable of more but is being held back by a lack of clarity or alignment, Growth Navigator Solutions can help by facilitating your team’s discussions and improving the systems and processes for your company.
