60 ways to workplace alignment

Paul Simon had 50 ways to leave your lover, but here are 60 ways to achieve a workplace aligned to excellence in communication, accountability, collaboration, coordination, responsibility, and sharing of authority–the core drivers of job satisfaction, morale and employee engagement.

Authority means:

1. Creating role clarity;
2. Sharing power with others;
3. Contributing to planning and goal-setting;
4. Power to make independent decisions;
5. Having the freedom to take reasonable risks;
6. Power to muster resources as needed;
7. Creation of clear expectations;
8. Creation and preservation of trust;
9. Ability to offer both rewards and penalties;
10. Asking for help without feeling “weak.”

Accountability means

1. Clear measurements of success;
2. Regular reporting back on progress;
3. Self-awareness of knowledge, skills, and abilities;
4. Clarity of roles;
5. Quick consequences for poor performance;
6. Realistic expectations;
7. Budgets that are efficient and effective;
8. Clear rationale for decision-making;
9. Transparency and open scrutiny;
10. Wide-ranging input into decision-making.

Responsibility means

1. Quickly telling those who need to know;
2. Knowing your gaps in knowledge and abilities;
3. Early identification and resolution of conflicts;
4. Knowing precisely what workplace expectations are;
5. Practicing fairness in all relationships;
6. Letting others know if you can’t do the job;
7. Ensuring others know what you expect of them;
8. Getting the training you need;
9. Knowing how your job fits into bigger goals;
10. Knowing when, where and whom to ask for help.

Communication means

1. Ongoing, not ad hoc efforts;
2. Making sure messages are timely;
3. Ensuring content is helpful;
4. Ensuring common understanding;
5. Being respectful;
6. Being inclusive;
7. Avoiding “gate-keepers;”
8. Being relevant;
9. Being honest;
10. Asking for others’ opinions.

Collaboration means

1. Mutual trust;
2. Sharing of power;
3. Informing and educating others;
4. Early identification and resolution of conflict;
5. A respect for the values of others;
6. Creating networks, not silos of activity;
7. Ongoing communications;
8. Common goals and objectives;
9. Freedom to challenge assumptions;
10. Being ethical in all actions.

Coordination means

1. Others know what you are doing;
2. Knowing what others are doing;
3. Helping those most in need;
4. Respecting the feelings of others;
5. Trusting others;
6. Listening carefully to others;
7. Sharing a common purpose;
8. Sharing a common vision;
9. Knowing each others’ strengths;
10. Constant communication.