All businesses are different. They have different challenges, different team dynamics, different opportunities. There's no blueprint for success, but there is an approach that will benefit everyone: alignment.
Do you sometimes feel a bit out of control, like your strategy is erratic like your team is pulling in different directions? It could be time to gather some alignment.
When your business is aligned your strategy, goals and purpose all reinforce each other. It's a foundation that helps you make the right decisions at the right time.
So how can you get your business more aligned? Thinking around these principles is a good place to start.
Purpose and strategy
You've probably got both, but are they working together? Does your business strategy support your purpose? All your strategic priorities should link back to your purpose, they should connect with your reason for being, your north star. Every strategic choice you make – whether it's about introducing a new service, recruiting new team members, or entering new markets, they should be aligned with your purpose. When it does you’ve got yourself an effective business strategy.
Think about what makes you great
The things that make you great are the things that will make you even greater. Focus your thinking on the work, people, structures, processes, and culture. This will help you stand out, help you fulfil your purpose and therefore it will help you to continue to win. When all these things are aligned, when you have true clarity, you can maximise your potential.
The right set up
Your business needs to be set up to help you – not hamper your success. If you're all about creativity and innovation are your working practices, systems, and environment set up for that? If you're all about service, does your team and culture reflect that every day? Every element of your business should be strategically set up to contribute to your purpose and give you that competitive edge. And that includes your leadership structure, have you got the right people in the right positions to support your growth?
Communicating change and setting targets
You can only have an aligned organisation when you take everyone with you. When they understand the need for shifts in the business, when they recognise the role they can play, and when they understand the relevance on a personal and business level of future goals and targets. Consider how you will communicate change and keep people engaged on the journey.
Visibility and reporting
Alignment isn't a quick fix, it's a long-term commitment that without visibility and reporting it will soon start to wane. Think about visibility within teams, between departments and between leadership and staff. People need to be willing to share and eager to see the bigger picture, and that means sharing updates, results, wins, and losses. It will make your business more agile, effective, and aligned.
Getting support
Achieving alignment, especially when you're trying to scale a business, can be hard. If you need support, our new Beyond programme could help. It's bespoke scale-up support that focuses on your specific challenges and opportunities – to help you unlock growth. With the support of dedicated consultants and coaches, you'll get greater alignment across your organisation, more focus to drive results, and a plan to unlock the potential in your business.