Strategic Goal Setting Series: Week2
Align & Connect: “Why doesn’t anyone get it?”
Hello again, Reader 👋
Once upon a time, I managed my first software project…
I had a complicated diagram on a whiteboard, a meeting with the sales team of the delivery partner, where I waved my hands and described my exciting vision. They got excited about my vision and made promises on behalf of their technical team.
I hired a project manager and defined project milestones who worked with the technical lead worked towards delivering a list of criteria against which the platform could deliver.
But it was a disaster. delay after delay, functionality that did not deliver and in the end a cancelled contract with the service provider and another year of delays on what we wanted to achieve in the business
The problem?
There was no translation on the understanding of requirements and capabilities between the sales cycle and those delivering of the big picture, no clarity, or alignment.
This Week’s Superpower: 🧭 Align & Connect
“Why doesn’t anyone else see the big picture?”
Here’s why:
You’ve been thinking about this for weeks. Maybe months.
They just got looped in.
This week’s OKR superpower is about building alignment — the kind that creates buy-in, not just busywork.
Because when your team gets it, everything flows.
Alignment Starts With Connection
Think of alignment like rowing a boat.
If everyone’s paddling in sync, you glide.
But if one person is rowing backwards (or worse, just floating), you go in circles — or sink.
I used to think alignment meant a team meeting and a pretty PDF of the plan.
Now I know better.
Alignment means:
- Your VA knows what done looks like
- Your contractor understands the why behind the task
- Your team feels like they’re part of the win — not just delivering it
Try This: The One-Page Alignment Exercise
Next time you delegate a task, include this:
- What’s the bigger goal this supports?
(e.g. “Grow our list by 500 leads this quarter”) - What does success look like?
(e.g. “100 downloads of the freebie by end of month”) - How does your part contribute?
(e.g. “Writing the welcome email that converts subscribers into clients”)
Suddenly, the task isn’t just a task. It’s a mission.
Feeling Disconnected From Your Own Goals?
Sometimes, alignment is an inside job.
If you feel disconnected from your goals — like they don’t excite you anymore — it’s worth asking:
- Is this still what I want?
- Have I shared this goal with the people who can help me get there?
- Does my calendar reflect what I say I care about?
Let’s stop rowing in circles.
This week, try aligning just one person around one goal.
You’ll feel the difference.
With clarity,
Anne
P.S. Next week is about TRACKING — but not the “spreadsheet guilt” kind. Think: momentum, not micromanaging.