Is Everyone On The Same Page?

Getting and keeping everyone on the same page is a critical success factor for leaders.  It is also one of the hardest things to accomplish due to the human meaning-making.  Each of us sees, hears, and feels things differently.  We all develop different sets of filters that we use to interpret what we read, see, and hear.  Our mood or state of mind at the time of input also influences what we get from the input.  Thus, things can have different meanings and produce different reactions and actions.  Our interests, situations and conditions also play a large role in the meaning-making process.  There are several aspects involved in the process of getting everyone on your team on the same page:

• Self-Clarity
• Conviction
• Motivation
• Shared Meaning
• Repetition
• Perseverance

Self-Clarity: The first step to getting everyone on the same page is to get you on the same page.  That means you need to be very clear about what it is that needs to be accomplished.  You need to know the goal, purpose, mission, desired outcome, etc.

Conviction:  You need to become very certain in what needs to be accomplished.  You must have no doubt about it and be able to show that in your body language.  It must show you are convinced of it.

Motivation:  Next, you need to build motivational energy by ensuring the key players feel they can accomplish whatever needs to be accomplished, they know the rewards of accomplishment, and the rewards are of value to them.  This will ensure they have the motivation to follow-through.

Shared meaning: You need to develop definitions for the key terms necessary to accomplish clear communications and understanding.  Everyone involved needs to give the same or very similar meaning to the key terms.  When things have different meanings to people, they cannot communicate effectively.

Repetition:  Nothing is more important than repetition in the alignment process.  Repeating the aim or goal, purpose etc. is very important.  Repeating the meaning of things is also valuable.   Never assume people remember, got it, know it, etc.  You need to keep repeating where you are going, what it means… and on and on.

Perseverance:  You need to be relentless about it.  Never give up.  Keep trying and keep repeating it until it gets ingrained.  Don’t stop until it gets done!

These are some of the key factors or aspects of getting and staying on the same page.  It is hard work and it starts with you and ends with you as the leader.

Are you on the right page?  Is everyone on the same page?

The BEST is Yet to Come!

Epi Torres, CEO