Having assessed our current position with open eyes and minds in the CHECK phase of
the CALM High Performance Cycle, we advance in the ALIGN phase to (re)define what wild success looks like. Here, we rally around the impact we aim to create, and evaluate our unique position to realize it. We establish or affirm high-level program goals within the broader context of both the organization’s mission and evolving external conditions, ensuring continued alignment with overarching strategic objectives.
At every pass through this step, the foundational vision of the program is further solidified or refined throughout the project lifecycle. Integrating the diverse perspectives of leaders, managers, and subject matter experts from the outset not only cultivates a strong sense of ownership and accountability, but strengthens the development of a cohesive, resilient and actionable strategy.
Why the ALIGN Phase is Crucial:
• Unity in Direction: The true power of a team is unleashed when every member, from executive to intern, shares a unified vision for the project's outcomes. Alignment ensures that disparate efforts converge into a singular, powerful direction.
• Strategic Prioritization: In environments with complex organizational structures or multiple partnerships, cross-functional objectives may conflict. These trade-offs are acknowledged, prioritized, and resolved within a clear strategic framework with buy-in from all key parties – enabling quicker, more effective decision-making as the project progresses.
• Adaptive Resilience: Alignment is not about rigidity. It's a dynamic agreement to adapt and evolve based on new insights and challenges. This flexibility within a structured framework empowers teams to navigate complexities with agility and confidence.
In a CALM work environment, the program vision cannot be over-emphasized; it anchors and contextualizes all points of collaboration. All team members understand not just what needs to be done or decided by when, but why, and how their work contributes to the overall mission. This frees leadership to focus their energy and attention only on key confirmation or decision moments in the project; enabling the execution team to drive the project forward with confidence in day-to-day operations.
You're invited to reflect on this theme and join the discussion below. How do you establish and maintain alignment across teams and stakeholders? Is everyone empowered to move in the same direction?