Last updated on Apr 3, 2025

Your team member's goals clash with your company's vision. How will you realign their focus?

Navigating a scenario where a team member's personal goals are at odds with the company's vision can be a delicate task. It requires a blend of empathy and strategic redirection to ensure that your team's efforts are aligned with the broader objectives of the organization. As someone in a supervisory role, you have the responsibility to guide and realign your team member's focus without demotivating them. This involves understanding their aspirations, communicating the company's vision effectively, and finding a common ground where both can thrive.

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1 Recognize Goals

To realign a team member's focus, first understand their personal goals. Listen actively to their aspirations and acknowledge the skills and passion they bring to the table. This step is crucial in demonstrating that you value their individuality and career progression. By recognizing their ambitions, you create an environment of trust, making it easier to navigate the conversation towards how their goals can align with the company's vision.

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🚁 Tim Adams

Senior Operations Manager | Aviation Maintenance & Fleet Readiness | Airframe, Composites, & Sheet Metal MODs | Driving Safety, Efficiency, & Operational Excellence | Open to Work - Globally
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Effective leadership requires aligning individual aspirations with organizational objectives. I would engage in a direct, open conversation to understand their career goals and identify common ground between their aspirations and the company’s vision. By emphasizing their impact on the bigger picture and providing opportunities for growth within the framework of company objectives, I’d help realign their focus while fostering motivation and engagement.

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2 Communicate Vision

Once you understand your team member's goals, articulate the company's vision with clarity. Explain how their role contributes to the larger picture and the importance of aligning individual goals with organizational objectives. Use examples to illustrate successful alignment and discuss potential career paths within the company that can satisfy their aspirations while fulfilling the company's needs.

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3 Explore Alignment

Exploring areas of alignment between your team member's goals and the company's vision is key to finding a mutually beneficial path forward. Discuss how their skills and interests can be leveraged to support company objectives. Encourage them to consider how their personal development can coincide with business growth, fostering a sense of purpose and contribution to the team's success.

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4 Offer Support

Offering support is essential in helping your team member realign their focus. Present opportunities for professional development that align with both their goals and the company's vision. This could include training programs, mentorship, or taking on new projects that challenge them and contribute to the company's strategic goals. Show commitment to their growth within the framework of the company's needs.

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5 Set Objectives

Setting clear and achievable objectives is a practical step in realigning your team member's focus. Work together to establish short-term goals that serve as stepping stones towards the larger vision. Ensure these objectives are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) to provide direction and motivation. Regular check-ins to assess progress will keep them on track and demonstrate your investment in their success.

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6 Adjust as Needed

Finally, be prepared to adjust strategies as needed. Realigning focus is not a one-time event but an ongoing process. Stay open to feedback from your team member and be flexible in adapting plans to accommodate their growth and the evolving needs of the company. This iterative approach will help maintain alignment over time, ensuring that both individual and organizational goals are met.

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Your team member's goals clash with your company's vision. How will you realign their focus?

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1 Recognize Goals

2 Communicate Vision

3 Explore Alignment

4 Offer Support

5 Set Objectives

6 Adjust as Needed

Supervisory Skills

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Your team member's goals clash with your company's vision. How will you realign their focus?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Recognize Goals

2 Communicate Vision

3 Explore Alignment

4 Offer Support

5 Set Objectives

6 Adjust as Needed

Supervisory Skills

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

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