Design Dash
A “Bring Alignment” workshop is a strategic gathering designed to bridge the gap between vision and execution.
This workshop is all about connecting the dots and ensuring that every team member comprehends their role and the reasons behind it. By doing so, it streamlines your efforts, saving both time and energy. In essence, it’s a powerful tool for fostering clear communication, shared understanding, and effective execution of your objectives.
A Team Vision is a clear and inspiring statement that serves as a guiding beacon for your teams.
Rather than focusing solely on what you do, it emphasizes why you do it. It’s designed to be motivating and should be something that ignites passion and purpose within your team members. A strong team vision not only sets a high-level direction but also serves as a source of inspiration, encouraging your team to be enthusiastic and committed to their work.
Team Values are the guiding principles that shape the behavior, culture, and decision-making within a team.
Just as a team vision provides a destination, team values serve as the roadmap to reach that destination. They define the core beliefs and principles that team members adhere to in their daily work. These values create a shared understanding of what’s important and guide how the team operates. For example, Starbucks’ values emphasize creating comfortable spaces with ample amenities, with coffee as an incidental part of the experience.
Identifying and aligning with the values that truly resonate with your team can help foster a positive culture and ensure that the team’s actions are in sync with its mission.
Team Strategy is a structured plan that assists your team in making informed decisions and provides them with a clear sense of purpose and autonomy to accomplish their objectives.
Crucially, aligning your team’s strategy with the broader goals of your organization is not only important but fundamental to ensure everyone is working in concert. When there’s alignment in direction and purpose, it leads to a harmonious and productive environment. Team Strategy acts as a guiding framework that helps your team understand their role, objectives, and how their work contributes to the overall success of the organization. This alignment results in contentment among team members and contributes to the overall well-being and success of the organization.
Design Principles are concise and clear guidelines that empower your team to make informed design decisions in their day-to-day work.
These principles provide a straightforward framework for evaluating design options. When creating a design principle, the key question to consider is whether it aids in making a specific design decision. If it doesn’t contribute to that decision-making process, it’s removed to maintain simplicity and clarity.
For example, a good design principle might be “one primary action per screen,” while a less effective one could be “keep the number of actions per screen to a minimum.” Design Principles are essential for ensuring that design choices align with a common set of standards and goals.
The Decision Stack is a strategic framework designed to bridge the gap between a team’s vision and its execution.
It starts by asking essential questions:
- Where is the team heading?
- What’s the path to get there?
This framework provides a structured approach for communicating your team’s intentions to the wider world. It also aids in pinpointing any gaps in your strategy, allowing for better alignment and giving your team the autonomy and guidance needed to excel in their work. Ultimately, the Decision Stack serves as a tool for making informed decisions and translating your vision into actionable steps.