Statistics, facts and figures don’t align colleagues. Humans choose to connect and collectively focus their energy based upon how they feel:
- about the plan,
- their colleagues,
- and themselves.
Changing behaviors is not an intellectual exercise. It’s the business of the heart.
Before investing long nights in creating the perfect deck of slides designed to sell and align others to the change you’re proposing, it’s wise to rethink:
- What constitutes alignment? (Hint: It’s much more than having a shared objective.)
- How is alignment accomplished? (Hint: There’s a big difference between consensus and collaboration.)
- When does alignment occur? (Hint: In every interaction of every day.)
Consider: As you share your plan with colleagues ask them the three questions above. Then be prepared for the sort of truth telling you need to get the job done.
Informing colleagues and aligning them to a plan are two different activities requiring two different skills. Collaborative leaders create shared clarity and emotional commitment.
