Organizational alignment has become a buzzword. Leaders now understand that well-made plans, even plans that contain brilliant strategies, are not enough to ensure success. Today's workplaces are diverse, complex, and characterized by constant change. When teams lack clear priorities or buy/in, or have conflicting agendas, it is difficult to get the necessary traction to carry strategic initiatives to success.

To reach its full potential, an organization must get aligned so that all processes are moving in the same direction in a concerted, synergistic fashion. This is easier said than done. It requires a keen understanding of alignment principles, systemic thinking (the ability to perceive, integrate, and align complex systems), and EQ (emotional intelligence—the ability to read and influence individual and group needs, motivations, and commitment). Stagen consultants and facilitators are uniquely qualified to help organizations achieve alignment because they combine world-class talent with the most comprehensive methodologies and tools available.

Because leaders have no "dashboard indicator" for people and relationship issues, many miss the subtle emotional and political currents pulsing through their organizations. Organizations and teams often experience varying degrees of confusion (about priorities), unspoken agendas, personality conflicts, and tension. Alignment is not the same as agreement; managers may disagree on key points and will almost certainly have diverse perspectives and opinions on strategic drivers, organizational dynamics, and how best to address them. But when managers have shared values and vision, and when they collectively understand the key drivers and the strategies that are being employed to address them, they can be collectively committed to the major efforts while still disagreeing on the finer points.

Stagen consultants help clients optimize the deployment of organizational resources by identifying distinctive competencies and putting them into action in the context where they have the greatest impact. In partnership with clients, Stagen helps link and fine-tune roles, systems, and processes in service of the organizational purpose, values, and vision. This work often results in productivity increases due to greater accountability toward strategy-focused goals. Problems and costs often decrease because people are not distracted by projects that do not directly support the strategy. Strategic alignment often increases commitment and reduces employee turnover.

Naturally, true alignment has to start at the top of the organization; therefore, executive team alignment is a prerequisite for more broad-based organizational alignment efforts. Executive alignment is not a type of "buy-in" or willingness to simply "go along with" a set of goals or an existing strategic plan. Rather, it is a commitment by the leaders of an organization to develop the requisite teamwork acumen necessary to craft leveraged business strategies and facilitate their successful execution.