Do You Know Your ‘Why?’
Alignment isn’t just about having everyone rowing in the same direction — it’s about knowing exactly why you’re all rowing together in the first place. Making sure that your entire leadership team is on the same page is a critical step toward successfully executing anything as a cohesive unit. When the executive leaders in your company are aligned, decisions are made more effectively and more efficiently. But to be truly aligned, you need to ensure you know your ‘why.’
Alignment, vision and purpose
Knowing your ‘why’ is the compass that guides your decisions and actions as a CEO or leader. When leaders fully comprehend their personal ‘why,’ and it aligns with the company’s mission, magic happens. Understanding your ‘why’ goes beyond a simple mission statement or corporate slogan. It’s about tapping into the core reasons that drive you and your organization forward, day in and day out. Imagine you’re embarking on a journey. Your vision is the destination — a thriving, successful company. Your purpose is the fuel that propels you there — the reason why you get up in the morning, excited to tackle challenges and make a difference. You need both, and so does your team.
Can you explain your ‘why?’
As a leader, knowing (and being able to articulate) your ‘why’ creates a ripple effect throughout the organization, motivating everyone to work towards a common goal with passion and dedication. When faced with tough choices or opportunities, knowing your ‘why’ helps you make decisions that are consistent with your values and long-term objectives. This consistency builds trust among your team and stakeholders, reinforcing your commitment to the vision. Besides, people are drawn to leaders driven by a clear sense of purpose. By articulating your ‘why’ authentically and passionately, you inspire others to connect with the larger goals and mission of the organization. And honestly, would you follow a leader who couldn’t answer it?
How to discover your ‘why’
At first glance, it might seem obvious. Or you might have absolutely no idea where to start! You can always consult with experts who are practiced in guiding leaders toward these realizations, but there’s a couple key exercises you can start with on your own.
- Reflect on your values. What principles and beliefs guide your life and your work? Your ‘why’ often stems from deeply held values that shape your decisions and actions.
- Identify impact. Consider the effect and impact you want to make, both personally and professionally. How do you envision contributing to your team, your community or even the world? If you have a list of answers, do they all have something in common? What do they boil down to?
- Connect with passion. What energizes and excites you? Your ‘why’ is often found at the intersection of what you’re naturally good at and what you love to do. It could be solving puzzles and problems, creating innovative new techniques or helping others succeed. Only you can know what lights your fire.
Incorporating the answer into your leadership
Once you’ve figured out the purpose you bring to your company, you’ll need to authentically and openly communicate it with the other leaders on your team. Make sure it aligns with the organization’s mission and invite others into conversations about it.
Lead by example, demonstrating your commitment through both everyday actions and strategic decisions. As an executive, you have to be willing to make tough choices that uphold your values and advance your mission.
By embracing and embodying your ‘why,’ you not only lead more effectively but also inspire a culture where everyone — from your leadership team to frontline employees — feels connected to a larger purpose. This alignment fosters resilience, innovation, and sustained success in achieving organizational goals.
How can you keep everyone aligned?
Communication is key! Make sure your vision and purpose are crystal clear to everyone on your team, and to the people they manage. Involve your leaders in shaping these goals — after all, they’re the ones who will rally the troops to achieve them. And since good communication involves more listening than speaking, invite questions to make sure others understand them and know what to do next.
Don’t forget to keep the conversation going, either. Alignment isn’t a one-time deal, it’s an ongoing journey, and you may need to remind your team members what’s at stake. Find ways to talk about what’s going well and what needs to improve — and celebrate wins together to reinforce that shared sense of purpose and keep the momentum going.
What happens if you aren’t aligned as a company?
Let’s be real — alignment isn’t always smooth sailing.
Miscommunications happen, egos clash, and priorities shift. But here’s how to calm the waters: transparency and open dialogue.
When challenges arise, tackle them head-on, remembering that conflict is a great thing. It means your people are invested and that this matters to them. Use disagreements as opportunities to clarify or refine your vision and strengthen your team’s unity.
There can be serious consequences for companies that aren’t in alignment, whether it’s because there’s a lack of clarity around purpose or a different issue entirely.
Take a moment to reflect on your organization’s vision and purpose. Are they clear? Are they clear enough, and to everyone? Are your leaders aligned?
And are you sure you know your ‘why?’
If not, we’re here to help. Get in touch with our team of experts for a free consultation — we’ll help you figure out your ‘why’ as a leader, how you can boost alignment in your company and how to execute successfully.