Have you checked on your business alignment lately?

<p>These days, one cannot pick up a newspaper, turn on the radio, switch on the television set or have a standard business conversation where the word “crisis” does not come right out and simply drown your already oxygen-deprived optimism and attitude.</p><p>Let today be no different, with a slight exception. There is a crisis, but not one making headlines or TV news. It is not a crisis highlighted in the Wall Street Journal, debated on CNN, discussed on your local radio talk show or part of kitchen table banter. This is a crisis of alignment. And I am not talking about the type of alignment President Obama purports that his Washington cohorts and Wall Street lack, I am talking about good old-fashioned employer-employee alignment.</p><p>At no time in history, with uncertainty and fear shackling most of us on a daily basis, is employer-employee alignment more important. And, with the well-publicized loss of nearly 2 million jobs in the last three months, the employer-employee alignment problem is further magnified.</p><p>But let me offer you a sincere sense of hope and optimism: With the appropriate leadership focus, attention and care, it can and will be remedied.</p><p>Now, I had the good fortune to be part of an organization, which for the most part, understood alignment. Words like high quality, customer service, innovation, intimacy and relationship building were used daily, and all of those who “Bled Nelson Blue” fully understood how their distinct, everyday activities were aligned with those simple, yet very, very powerful words. </p><p>Those words were our mission and values, and leadership consistently evangelized and reinforced those words. And, I am happy to say, there are companies in today’s world that understand alignment. My fear is that breed of company, particularly during difficult economic times, has become the exception, not the rule.</p><p>Fifteen to 20 years ago, when our business lives were not as impacted by hyper- individualism, technological isolation, generational difference, cultural complexity, the virtual worker, etc., alignment was much easier. We were a community, everyone understood their role and knew exactly how they fit into the big picture.</p><p>Similarly, in our personal lives, we knew all of our neighbor’s names, our children played out in the streets together and there was a real sense of community, of purpose, of alignment.</p><p>But in today’s world, the alignment void is prevalent and obvious.</p><p>It appears that community, connectivity and alignment are still what many individuals are seeking. The craze over connectivity technologies like MySpace, Facebook, Linked In and many others is testimony to this thirst for connectivity and community, for alignment.</p><p>In an age where many of us do not know our neighbor’s names, feel isolated and are looking for common purpose, people can find refuge getting behind a cause, being part of something unique and feeling like a great contributor. And not unlike many other problems, social or otherwise, individuals can turn toward their employers, their career and their place of work for a solution.</p><p>So as we navigate through these difficult waters, are employers asking themselves some simple questions?</p><p>• What steps are we taking to ensure employees understand, believe and live the mission and values of our organization?</p><p>• What steps are we taking to highlight and recognize how their individual work directly ties to the mission and values?</p><p>• Do our employees feel empowered to provide solutions and offer creativity during these difficult times?</p><p>• Do our employees really want to be here or are they holding on to a job until the tide turns?</p><p>• And, finally, do our employees’ individual consciousnesses feel aligned with the overall business culture consciousness?</p><p>Additionally, as we try to stay afloat during these trying times, are employees asking themselves these questions?</p><p>• What steps am I taking to ensure my individual goals and aspirations are in alignment with the company’s?</p><p>• Do I believe in the cause, product or service my company is providing?</p><p>• What extra steps can I take to accelerate the accomplishment and goals of the collective business good?</p><p>As a young boy, when something extraordinarily wonderful occurred, my parents would say, “The stars were aligned.”</p><p>The big question employers and employees need to ask themselves during these critical times is, “What am I doing to make sure that ultimately the stars, both individually and collectively, are aligned,“ because with alignment, some extraordinarily wonderful things can occur.</p><p>•••</p><p>Mark Nelson is the former president and chief operating officer of the Nelson Family of Companies, the largest independently owned staffing and human capital service firm in Northern California. Mr. Nelson built and grew businesses for the company for more than 20 years and remains an owner, shareholder and board member. He is currently dedicating himself to helping business leaders “build businesses for a better tomorrow.” Mr. Nelson can be reached at markgnelson@me.com.</p>