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You are driving along, reaching a good cruising speed, and suddenly, your steering wheel starts to vibrate. Your car begins to ride like a tank.

You slow down and raise your hand slightly off the wheel. Sure enough, your vehicle veers to the side.

It is confirmed. Your tires are out of alignment.

Out of Alignment

Left unaddressed, the misalignment can result in abnormal wear and tear, safety issues, and greater repair costs, not to mention a very unpleasant ride.

And this is exactly what happens when you and your team are out of alignment. There is friction, agitation, and veering off the defined path to success. If not addressed, it will only get worse.

The good news is, there is an easy fix. In either case, you just need a little realignment.

Realignment

In times of change and at different intervals, things will naturally get out of alignment. Projects will drift. Timelines will shift. Focus wears down, and energy wanes. Disorder ensues.

This is normal.

It is also an indicator that a realignment is needed.

What are some areas that need realignment on a regular basis?

Mission, Vision, and Values

These are the core components that bind your team together. Shared mission, vision, and values create a cohesive team bond.

The first question to ask regularly is if your mission, vision, and values still hold true for you and your organization. There are times when slight refinements are needed to strengthen the organization. Or, at times, the organization needs to reorient toward its “true north”.

The second question to ask is whether each team member is aligned to the mission, vision, and values. If a person cannot agree with these core tenets, they will feel conflicted, and the organization will be affected.

Thirdly, ask yourself if you, as the leader, are aligned with the mission, vision, and values. If you cannot be fully onboard with the direction of the organization, your team will notice the misalignment.

Strengths

This involves the people side of the work equation. It should include a regular review of your organizational chart to ensure each person is able to serve in the areas of their strengths, with a viable path for growth. If each person is focused on serving in their strengths, there is a massive compounding effect.

Energy

People have energy. Seasons have energy. And these shift. Great leaders will take this into account when planning. They will recognize there are times for intense focus as well as times for lower-level administrative work. And they will plan in such a way that employees can take time away to recharge throughout the year.

Communication

There can be major misalignments in the realm of communication. This is why it is important to know each person’s communication style and to communicate accordingly. It is also important to keep an open dialogue, where listening is given as much value as speaking.

Areas of Business

Whether it is marketing, operations, production, or sales, each area of business should be reviewed regularly to ensure they are in alignment, both internally and externally with other departments and outside vendors. If your marketing and sales teams are not aligned with your customer service team, for example, your customers will not have a smooth experience.

Connections

Connections are important to the success of any leader and organization. The best leaders are also great connectors. There are growth periods where connections need to be realigned. Are your business connections still aligned? Do you need to uplevel your mentorship connections in order to reach higher levels? Are your current customers still engaged, or do you need to reach a new and expanded customer base? Is your team connected to you as the leader, to your company, and to each other?

Strategic Realignment

It is a good idea to realign yourself and your team on a regular basis. An end-of-the month review with your team to catch drifts early is a good option. A strategic planning session prior to each new quarter, also, is essential.

This allows you to make incremental adjustments that will keep yourself and your team on track to reach the goals you have set.

Why Alignment Matters

Alignment not only creates a smooth experience. It prevents greater issues. As you prepare for the final quarter of this year, review this alignment checklist for any needed adjustments.

This will allow you to hit the fourth quarter with greater momentum, speed, and focus.

Applied over time, regular realignments create greater impact.

For valuable resources on Leadership Strengths and Tools, click here.

Deb Ingino is a highly sought-after executive coach, mentor, consultant, and speaker worldwide. Deb is well versed in business operations and in the importance of asking key questions most business leaders won’t ask themselves. She brings deep experience in leadership development, strategy, high performance team building and effective communication. She has a passion for leading people to discover and maximize their strengths as well as those of fellow team members, while offering advanced strategies to achieve high performance. Deb is the perfect fit if you’re ready to take your leadership and impact to the next level!