What is organisational alignment?
Organisational alignment is the concept that the entire team, from the most entry-level employees to the CEO, share a common vision and goal for the company. They work collaboratively to accomplish each goal while maintaining a sense of transparency and accountability across departments.
Why is organisational alignment important?
Alignment is essential for continuous and effective business processes, both internally and externally (the customer experience). It also encourages collaboration, which creates engaged and more effective teams. Without alignment, each department works independently with its own goals, data sets, and technology applications. We call this a siloed organisation.
Here are the key benefits of organisational alignment:
Improved collaboration amongst teams
Teams are able to communicate more effectively and collaborate on ideas and processes, creating less customer confusion and improved customer experiences.
With defined roles and responsibilities, each department and team member are responsible for their part in the customer experience. There is no overlap or missed opportunities.
Quicker decision making
Because data is centralised, leadership is able to make strategic decisions more swiftly than having to collect and analyse data from fragmented teams.
Fewer resources wasted
Resources are used more prudently, and there is less overlap in efforts. This means saving money and increased organisational efficiency.
Greater transparency and accountability
An aligned team recognises how each department functions and the roles they play in the customer experience. This means that each team member knows how their own role affects others within the company. This accountability and transparency create more engaged employees.
Enhanced roles and responsibilities
With an aligned team, every employee is assigned to the tasks that best fit their skills. Each person knows their role, what is expected of them and how they fit into the big picture.
How to move towards organisational alignment
Team alignment doesn’t happen overnight. It takes strategic planning and, most importantly, vision from the top down. Some simple steps for consideration:
Establish an integrated vision
This is the most important aspect when working towards team alignment. Without a concrete vision, the team has no real path to follow. Silos typically start with management. Each department head is focused on achieving his or her own set of goals without taking the remainder of the team into account. This silo mentality is damaging to team alignment.
Effective communication is key
While working independently is vital for focus, that doesn’t mean you don’t actively communicate with the rest of the team. The idea is to encourage the free flow of information. Review the barriers between departments, and align to enable everyone to communicate openly, whether around the workplace or through online tools if working remotely. To encourage collaboration amongst teams, it’s important to create mixed teams that work towards a mutual goal. For example, if you want to improve your customer journey, the business development team should consist of key account leads, sales, marketing and customer service. That way, you have interdepartmental collaboration and a broader view of the needs of the customer.
Physical office space is an important factor. Collaboration space doesn’t mean everyone sits around drinking coffee sharing office gossip; it simply means allowing people to network and work collectively. This creates happier employees, improving employee engagement. Evidence suggests engaged workforces are more productive, which in turn results in overall progression for the organisation as a whole.
Consider creating an open environment where people can collaborate together
As people are now increasingly seeking community and a progressive working environment, it’s vital to break down the silos and allow your teams to communicate openly and grow together. A team that grows together stays together. A company can avoid a lot of possible issues by establishing a clear alignment strategy. Don’t wait until it’s too late.
If you would like assistance in reviewing your organisational alignment please get in touch to arrange a free, confidential 60-minute business consultation, email: mj@pcwconsultinggroup.com.
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