/? " Organisational Goals
Teams don't have to be aligned with the goals of the organization. Teams can work on what they believe to be the right things. They can work diligently on creating the results they think matter. They can be completely committed to success from their perspective.
A non-aligned team could enjoy each other and their work. They could accomplish much, and all of that could be completely counter to what the organization needs. Can you see this happening?
It isn't just a fantasy, I've seen it, and I'll bet you have too. Maybe you've even experienced it.
Teams can't succeed in a vacuum, but far too often that is what organizations expect them to do, and it can lead to the scenarios I've just described. /? " Organisational Goals
Sometimes this vacuum is created by omission - leaders just aren't thinking about it or are "too busy" to set context for team success. Other times the reason is optimism - leaders believe in their team members and their skills. After all they hired bright people - and bright people will figure it all out.
And sometimes the vacuum is caused by a far more pervasive problem - no clear organizational goals, objectives or strategies exist to align to. Leaders must create clear strategies and they must create a clear line of sight throughout the organization, so people and teams can connect their work to the important strategies of the organization.
It takes effort to get a team in alignment with the organization's goals and strategies. And it is impossible when those goals and strategies don't exist.
Yes, strategies and goals may exist. And yes, they may have been communicated. This is a good start, but isn't enough. Teams can't gain the clear direction they need without conversation. It is the responsibility of leadership to provide that opportunity for conversation. This conversation provides the understanding which provides the team the context they need to clarify their goals and make the decisions that come along during their work. /? " Organisational Goals