Are Your Star Players Aligned?

Successful Leaders Secret Strategy

7 min readOct 24, 2023

As a leader, there is nothing more frustrating than not meeting your deadlines and worse not achieving your company’s goals. You try everything but still can’t seem to get things done. What could be going wrong? Often, the issue may not be a lack of talent or resources but a lack of alignment in your team. Team alignment is essential, and if you haven’t reassessed it for a while, it’s time to do so. Here’s why.

The Importance of Team Alignment

Team alignment refers to the process of ensuring that all team members are on the same page, working towards a common goal. When there is alignment in your team, everyone is clear about their roles and responsibilities, understands the bigger picture, and is motivated to work together toward achieving the team’s goals. This clarity eliminates confusion and promotes effective communication, resulting in increased productivity and efficiency.

Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

Years ago, when I began my role as a Hotel Food and Beverage Director, I encountered numerous challenges that demanded immediate attention. Among these, my primary focus was on reducing food costs. I organized a meeting with our culinary team and engaged in discussions with our largest supplier, who eagerly shared their innovative cost-control systems and efficient ordering processes. Interestingly, my predecessor had underestimated the supplier’s valuable input and the significance of utilizing available systems. Once we implemented their suggestions, we were pleasantly surprised by the remarkable time savings and substantial reduction in costs and waste. This transformative change proved to be a turning point for us.

This is worth sharing because it highlights the importance of recognizing that burnout is not exclusive to large teams. Even small teams can experience burnout if they lack support or connection. In the case of small companies, your team may also include external members such as your banker, bookkeeper, and suppliers. It’s crucial for them to have a comprehensive understanding of your working dynamics and how they impact your goals.

How Reassessing Team Alignment Can Help

Over time, team dynamics can change. New team members may join, roles and responsibilities may shift, goals may evolve and skill sets could change. When this happens, it’s crucial to reassess the alignment in your team to ensure that everyone is still working towards the same objectives. Here are a few ways reassessing team alignment can help:

Identify and Address Communication Issues: Miscommunication is one of the most significant factors that can hinder team alignment. By reassessing your team’s communication channels, you can identify any existing issues and work towards improving them. In addition, by fostering open lines of communication, individuals who may have been hesitant to express their unhappiness or underutilization in their roles will become more apparent. This enables a better understanding of their needs and allows for timely interventions.
Clarify Roles and Responsibilities: As previously mentioned, team alignment requires a thorough comprehension of each team member’s roles and responsibilities. Being part of a team does not entail forcefully asserting opinions on the same project, nor does it involve unnecessary meddling. Through reassessment, you can ensure that everyone is aware of their expectations, eliminating any potential overlap or gaps in work.
Adjust Team Goals: As your team progresses, it’s essential to regularly evaluate and adjust your goals to align with the current needs and capabilities of your team. Reassessing alignment allows you to identify any discrepancies and make necessary changes to ensure that everyone is working towards the same vision.
Foster Collaboration: When team members are aligned, they are more likely to collaborate effectively. Reassessing team alignment can help identify any barriers to collaboration and foster a culture of teamwork, leading to better outcomes.

Establish Adjunct Teams: In some cases, reassessing team alignment may reveal the need for adjunct teams to assist with specific tasks or projects. These teams can help alleviate any bottlenecks and ensure that work is completed efficiently.
Identify and address barriers: Conducting a thorough evaluation of team alignment can also assist in uncovering potential obstacles, ranging from conflicting objectives and outdated systems to faulty technology and redundant tasks.

Keeping Team Alignment in Check

Amazon Link to book: https://amzn.to/498N0ji — Amazon Link: **You Are The Team: 6 Simple Ways Teammates Can Go From Good To Great Paperback — June 15, 2017** by Michael G. Rogers (Author)

Reassessing team alignment should not be a one-time activity. To ensure continued success, it’s crucial to regularly check in and make necessary adjustments. Here are a few tips for keeping team alignment in check:

Schedule regular team meetings: Regular team meetings provide an opportunity for everyone to touch base, review progress, and address any concerns or issues.
Encourage open communication: Create a safe space where team members can openly communicate and express their thoughts, ideas, and concerns. This helps maintain transparency and ensures that everyone is on the same page.
Checks and Balances: Delegate Self and Cross Checks and Balances from the team members. Allow them to play a role in self-assessing their alignment and discussing discrepancies, if any.
Monitor progress: Keep track of individual and team progress toward goals to identify any areas that may require extra support or attention.
Offer continual feedback: Regularly provide feedback to team members on their performance and offer support as needed. This helps keep everyone motivated and focused on achieving team goals.
Invest in team building activities: Team building activities can help foster a strong sense of camaraderie and enhance team dynamics, leading to better alignment. When individuals are unfamiliar with one another, they are less inclined to consider the impact of their actions on their fellow team members or the company.

Lastly, let us not overlook the importance of acknowledging and embracing the power of positive feedback within teams. The notion of managers solely embodying strict discipline has long been surpassed. With that in mind, let us now address our last two points:

Follow Through: Ensure that decisions made during the reassessment process are followed through. This fosters accountability and highlights the importance of team alignment. Avoid using a bonus as a manipulative tactic to achieve personal goals. Instead, engage in open and honest conversations, addressing any concerns proactively. Do not wait for negative events to justify the absence of a bonus. If you choose to offer a reward, ensure that it is meaningful and proportional to the achievements. Consistently uphold your promises and deliver rewards in a timely manner. Say “Thank You!” and mean it.
Celebrate: Recognize both the small victories and the major milestones. It is crucial to commemorate team achievements, appreciate individual contributions, and acknowledge the efforts made towards attaining shared objectives. This not only uplifts team spirit but also reinforces the significance of harmonious collaboration in accomplishing success. Vibrant celebrations can elevate morale and foster a healthy spirit of competition, inspiring everyone to actively participate and excel. By engaging in such festivities, individuals are encouraged to perform at their best and achieve greater levels of productivity.

It’s not just a conclusion; it’s a strategic course of action

As a leader, it is not just your role, but your responsibility to understand the strengths and weaknesses of your team and plan accordingly. You must be willing to confront both the positive and negative aspects, ask difficult questions, and take necessary action. While it may seem insignificant, reassessing your team’s alignment is crucial for maintaining a high-performing and cohesive unit. Failure to meet deadlines and goals can lead to detrimental effects such as burnout, high turnover, loss of revenue, or even worse outcomes. Therefore, it’s essential to regularly evaluate and adjust team alignment to ensure that everyone is working towards a common vision and achieving success together. By following the tips mentioned above, you can foster a culture of teamwork, collaboration, and accountability within your team, leading to improved performance and overall success.

Strive for alignment to reach new heights of success!