When I was growing up, my father used to tell me a story about a disagreement he and his father had about raking leaves. My grandfather raked leaves in rows, bagging the leaves at the end of each row. But my dad preferred to rake the leaves into random piles for bagging.

 The purpose of raking was to clear all the dead leaves off the lawn, and both methods got the job done. Though they didn’t agree on the approach, they were aligned on the purpose and that it really didn’t matter which way they went about the work as long as the job got done.  

The same thing happens in business, but alignment isn’t quite so simple. We've all been there. You have a goal for your business, and decisions need to be made, but there’s a disagreement with your team. Decision-making stops, and plans get stuck. Unfortunately, sometimes even the simplest of plans, whether it's strategic, tactical, or figuring out where you want to go for lunch, can be derailed when there's disagreement, misunderstanding, or differing views of how things should happen.  

When we disagree with a decision, we feel things should have been done differently. We're left feeling frustrated and perhaps a little angry, especially if we disagree with a decision.

We don’t have to agree with a decision to be aligned with a common goal or purpose. Disagreeing with something often means you see a different side of a situation, but it doesn’t mean we have to dislike when that happens. Seeing another side to a situation is often a good thing. And it’s important to remember that different paths can take you to the same place.

Agreement

Too often, we hold having a unanimous agreement as to the key to important decision making, but this is not always feasible or realistic. Instead of focusing on having everyone in your team agree on something, focus on finding a common goal. When we focus on finding a common goal, we are more likely to find alignment, which, if done effectively, can help businesses get unstuck. 

We often confuse agreement and alignment because they work together when it comes to decision making. We may not agree with something, but in seeing other sides and understanding that they all work toward a common goal, we can become aligned with other’s ideas.  

Working to have everyone on a team agree with one another can be a waste of time and resources. Instead, working on being aligned with one another can untap new ideas and common interests.

Alignment 

Again, being aligned with others' ideas doesn't mean everyone on a team must agree with each other. You can be aligned about the need to get a job or task done, while also disagreeing with how the job is being done. Just because there's disagreement doesn't mean you can't get aligned on what matters most and how to move forward.

Alignment also means being open to feedback and recognizing that while we want to contribute and share our thoughts, it does not mean our opinions are absolute or correct. 

Revisit the purpose

Purpose tells a business what they’re doing and why they’re doing it. What is your reason for being in business?

When you’re stuck or a business goal has become stuck, ask yourself: 

• Why are you doing what you're doing?

• Why is it important that the goal is achieved?

• What does everyone want from the decisions?

Sometimes a reminder of the why can be instrumental in getting things back on track. Reminding people that they are all on the same team, whether they agree or not, can bring them back into alignment and focus on the overall goals.

This approach works for teams within the business, projects within a team, and even tasks that individuals are assigned. One of the most expensive and wasteful statements in business is “that’s the way we’ve always done it.” By revisiting the purpose, you can reaffirm the necessity or more effectively advocate for change—at any level of the business.

Look at your goals

Goals and purpose aren't the same things. Goals are why you're doing something, and purpose is what you hope to achieve. Purpose, as it pertains to business, means your business’ mission. Goals serve a business’ purpose. For example, one marketing goal would be to generate leads and another would be to increase sales. 

A goal is something a business strives to achieve, and all business goals should be aligned with a business' purpose. It is the decisions and discussions on reaching a goal (that will, in turn, accomplish the business' purpose) that need a plan. Creating the plan involved decision-making, and this is often when a disagreement arises. When this happens, think about which path gets you closer to the goal? What path are people most aligned with? 

Alignment is more important than agreement

When it comes to making a plan, it may be important to hear everyone’s thoughts and opinions, but do so knowing there that discussion will never generate 100% agreement. But getting to a place of alignment is the next best thing. It indicates buy-in, understanding, and commitment to move forward on the chosen path. It also means your team understands your business’ goals and purpose and is agreeing that working towards meeting those is best for everyone.