October feels like a turning point. Leaves are turning, the clocks go back and nights draw in. In business terms, the final quarter is here, deadlines may be looming and your teams might be running on lower energy than at the start of the year. It’s easy for priorities to fall to the wayside and suddenly everyone is working hard, really tired and perhaps pulling in different directions.
This is where you could use an alignment reset. It will make all the difference. It’s not an initiative or a new shiny project that will drain the time and energy you do have left. It’s a focused way to get everyone realigned on what really matters. And helps you finish the year really strong.
Change doesn’t have to be daunting. With the right approach it becomes doable.
Why teams drift off track in Q4 (and what you can do to help)
Even the strongest team can lose alignment in the final stretch. Common reasons include:
- Shiny object syndrome. Urgent fires or ‘nice to have’ projects pull focus away from the essentials.
- Fatigue. People are tired, energy and motivation dips and delivery suffers.
- The silo effect. Functions and departments double down to make sure they’re delivering their own targets for year end instead of pulling together.
Left unchecked, these issues really eat into momentum, slow down your delivery and leave you frustrated.
The alignment reset framework
It doesn’t have to be complicated. Actually ,it really shouldn’t be complicated. The simpler it is, the more effective it becomes.
My framework follows three clear steps Align, Activate, Embed.
- Align
Make sure everyone is on the same page. What’s the vision, the goal and the priorities.
- Ask: “What does success look like by year end?”
- Revisit goals and decide what’s essential and what can be parked
- Share a one-pager summarising the priorities and reminding everyone of the bigger picture
2. Activate
Turn plans into action with momentum, clear communication and engaged teams
- Break big goals down into smaller milestones
- Be really clear about what we are not going to be doing
- Create space for shot, focused check-ins to keep things moving
3. Embed
Equip leaders and teams with the skills, behaviours and confidence to make it through
- Reinforce the right habits with regular feedback
- Celebrate small wins to keep the energy up
- Encourage leaders to model the behaviours they want to see in their teams
Quick wins you can use this month
If your team is feeling a bit meh, you don’t need a huge intervention. Try these simple steps:
Run a 15 minute alignment check-in to identify top priorities
Share a one-page priorities overview for visibility
Build in some weekly activities (e.g. 15 minute stand up on a Friday to review the week) to keep the momentum up
These are small things that will build momentum, focus and engagement.
The end of the year doesn’t have to be chaotic. A short alignment reset helps your teams to regain focus, energy and momentum without piling on more work.
Real results happen when people are aligned, engaged and supported. That’s how change becomes doable, not daunting.
Want a simple step-by-step guide? Click here to access my free Alignment Reset Checklist to get your team back on track before year end.
