Why Alignment Matters

Alignment is one of those words that we don't use often.

When the steering on our car is out of alignment, our tires wear out faster.

Driving the car is harder because we are always fighting the steering. It wants to go one way, and we are trying to keep it going toward our destination.

Lack of alignment is costly because it creates conflicts. It puts parts of a system at odds where other parts.

Here are a few examples of a lack of alignment.

Poor morale. The system is not aligned with the people. They are unhappy for one reason or another. We could blame the people. Or we could address the reasons why they are unhappy.

Which is more important? Aligning people with the system or the system with the people? (Hold that thought.)

Disconnect between what you say you do and what you do. The system is not aligned with your purpose.

What is your purpose? What is your business' purpose? What measures do you use to determine that you are fulfilling your purpose? What do your customers say?  Are they recommending you to their family and friends?

What is more important? Doing things the way you've always done it? Or, having your customers say to their friends that you do what you say you are going to do?

A successful year did not lead to a second and a third one.  The system is not designed to align its various parts to create success.

If your life and work are not aligned for success, then it is out of balance. Lack of alignment creates wear and tear, conflict, confusion, poor morale, poor customer perceptions and a lack of impact.  The price is more than a new set of tires and a $50 steering alignment.

How do we create alignment in our life and work?

Simple.

Align your purpose with what you do and where you live and work.

Align your values with the people in whom you invest your life.

Align your vision with those relationships and social & organizational structures so the difference you make truly matters.

As simple as it sounds, it does require courage, commitment and a willingness to change.

Where to start in creating alignment?

1. Identify your purpose and the values that guide your relationships. Ask these questions.

Is my purpose just what I do, or is what I want to achieve?

What is the difference that I want to make that matters to me and to the world?

What are the values that are most important to me?

What difference do they make in my relationships?

2. Look for ways to act upon those ideas in the social and organizational structures where you live and work. Ask these questions.

Is my business organized to achieve my purpose?

Are my social and work interactions with people intentionally based on my values?

How can I operationalize my values?

3. Create a vision that brings all three dimensions together in an alignment that creates the impact you want. Ask these questions.

What can I do, along with my relationships, to make a difference that matters?

How can we use the systems and structures of our social and work settings to create this impact?

If we were successful, what would it look like? How would I describe the difference I see?

Take these steps, answer these questions, make changes and act upon what you discover, and alignment will begin to happen. And just when our car's steering is properly aligned, so too, when our life and work are aligned, we aren't fighting the systems, but able to focus on our destination

This is what it means to create alignment in our life and work.

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/charlesonflickr/3824682707/in/photostream/

Comments

[davidburkus]

Great point. I think one of the reasons were often out of alignment is that we don't start with a deep investigation of our vision and values. We don't know what to align with.

[Shawn Alladio]

Thank you Ed, this is a great remidner of purpose and intent. I found this quite helpful! Akin to what a good friend would tell another if 'off track'. Thanks again.