If your team doesn’t work together, you will struggle to grow and succeed.
When teams come together to achieve a common goal, they are most effective. We’ve broken down what team alignment is and why it’s important, especially when you’re in remote situations. We’ve also provided some tips to help you achieve better alignment.
This post will show you:
- What is team alignment?
- 5 ways to improve teamwork
- The importance of team alignment in the workplace
- Signs of misaligned or aligned teams
- Remote work and team alignment
What is team alignement?
When all team members in the workplace are aligned, they have a better understanding of corporate goals as well as a vision for collective (and individual) success over the long term. All of you must row in the same direction. Knowing where you’re going is not enough.
Team alignment is more than just a bottom line. When it comes to achieving and building sustainable business practices, employees must be on the exact same page. While it is important that everyone knows what your organization hopes to achieve, it is also crucial that the team shares these values. This will ensure that an organization’s success. It is essential that people understand the importance of this approach and the role they play collectively with their colleagues.
Five ways to create a strong team
1. Communication and transparency should be the core values of every organization
Communication at all levels is key to fostering alignment. When working remotely or in an environment in which team members work in separate spaces, it is easy to fall into information silos.
Keep your team informed about important updates to your organization or project. You should set aside time to clarify any unclear information and answer questions. Transparency is key to aligning your team.
2. Any team must have clear goals.
Your organization’s success will be aided by the goals of your team. If you don’t set clear goals, the big picture can get lost.
You may ask, “What’s the best way to document your goals?” There is no one solution to team alignment. It differs from one company to another. The OKR framework can be a good solution if you’re looking for a tried-and true approach.
OKR is the acronym for “Objectives, and Key Results.” The entire approach revolves about defining a goal, or objective, and then defining metrics (key outcomes), which will be used to determine its success. OKRs for Companies empower managers to create goals together with their team and then set individual goal per team member. It helps to create a team that is more aligned and can better achieve their business goals.
Include your team in goal-setting. If all team members are involved in setting goals, they will be more likely to support, understand and remember them.
3. Check in regularly with your team
Communication about your company’s values, strategy and goals should be a two-way process. It is important to keep the entire team up to date, but also to understand their understanding.
How can you make sure that your team is aligned to the company’s goals once you have shared and helped them create their OKRs?
- Schedule quarterly strategy meetings It is important to understand the relationship between team, organizational and individual goals. This is also a great forum to discuss any possible changes to current goals or priorities.
- Encourage anonymous messages Employees can ask questions, and express any concerns or ideas they may have. Some employees might feel more comfortable giving candid feedback on alignment if there is an anonymous touchpoint.
- Schedule Individual team members can discuss alignment. Allow them to ask questions about their role or their objectives.
- Send weekly surveys Include both quantitative and qualitative question to track trends and evaluate team alignment.
4. The right tools for team alignement
Recent research has found that the majority of enterprises now use 288 SaaS applications. These tools are very useful for teams that work remotely. There is a possibility of information silos, hidden tasks and other problems with so many tools. This can disrupt the alignment of your team.
It’s not good to force everyone to use one tool. The key is to identify the tools that can help build a team and achieve alignment, while still allowing for your employees to do their work in a way that suits them.
It is important to align teams at work
Team alignment has a major impact on the performance of your business. Your team will struggle to stay motivated and united if they don’t know what your company values and goals are.
A strong team brings many benefits.
- Aligned Teams are more effective. Teams that are not aligned can waste more time and be unable perform at their best.Teams that are aligned will be successful. Everyone is equipped to make quick and informed decisions, prioritize tasks, and work quickly.
- Aligned teams are more engaged Each team member understands his or her own role and that played by their co-workers. They also believe in their team’s vision. It creates an atmosphere of belonging and community. When people feel a part of something bigger, they experience a collective sense.
- Teams that work well together are aligned. When you share a common goal, it is easier to work together. Collaboration is easier when everyone has the same goals.
Remote work and team alignment
It is not easy to build and maintain team alignment, and the reality that a dispersed workforce brings a new set of challenges.
- Many managers and businesses are still adapting to a new working environment. Their teams also are out of synchrony. This readjustment is normal, but it’s important to identify any schisms.Tip – Implement deliberate solutions to the areas where you believe your team has been compromised by changes.
- It is harder to engage impromptu in discussions and other interactions which can help align a team.Tip – Keep your communication channels honest and open, and keep in touch with your team.
- Managers of distributed teams often feel that they have lost track of their teams. They are also unsure if their employees focus on the right things. It may be difficult for them to maintain team unity.Tip –Lack of visibility can lead a person to micromanage. Ask to be included in the daily updates of your team or ask them to hold weekly meetings so you can stay informed.Not sure if you’re a micromanager? This free template can help you determine whether your management style should be reevaluated.
- Misalignment in a remote setting can negatively impact performance and emotions. This is because issues can’t be resolved in person, and are grouped together with feelings of loneliness and disconnection.Tip Create a safe virtual environment for one-on-one meetings to discuss personal or professional issues. You can reassure others that their frustration and uncertainty is valid by sharing your feelings.