Management Tip of the Day: 3 Areas Your Organization Must Align

Are you having trouble viewing this email? If so, click here to see it in a web browser. HOME   |   BLOGS   |   THE MAGAZINE   |   BOOKS   |   AUTHORS   |   STORE RSS   |   Mobile AUGUST 2, 2011 3 Areas Your Organization Must Align Alignment simply makes things easier. When people and processes are in sync, it takes less time and energy to go from A to Z. Here are three areas where it is essential for decisions and actions to line up: Your brand promise and the market need. Customers are loyal to you when you give them what they want. Make sure what you promise to them is something the market needs. Investors' interests and the top team's goals. The executive team and those funding the operation need to see eye to eye. Otherwise, you spend too much time sorting out disagreements rather than building business. Products you offer and target customers. All companies must decide which customers to serve. A "middle of the road" solution pleases no one. Know your key customers and make sure your products satisfy them. Today's Management Tip was adapted from "We Can't Agree to Disagree" by Nilofer Merchant. Read the full post and join the discussion » Share Today's Tip: FEATURED PRODUCT Managing Upward: Harvard ManageMentor Online Module Harvard ManageMentor How well do you work with your supervisor? Gain insight into developing a mutually rewarding relationship, with skills for communicating and negotiating with your manager. Includes tips on presenting problems or opportunities to your supervisor and accepting responsibility for your proposed actions. One-year single user license. ADVERTISEMENT Follow the Tip: PREVIOUS TIPS 3 Don'ts of Persuasion 3 Tips for Hiring Recent Graduates Compete on Analytics 3 Ways to Build Confidence 3 Steps to Make a Business Case for Sustainability Don't Blame IT for that Failed Initiative Be a Realistic Optimist 3 Ways to Convince a Skeptic Retrain Your Brain Grant the Right to Competent Management BEST SELLERS HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials HBR's Must Reads Library Set Guide to Persuasive Presentations Guide to Better Business Writing Guide to Getting the Right Work Done Free HBR Interactive issue Download the iPad app HBR Reads, and get your issue with audio and video interviews and multimedia slideshows. Learn more » UNSUBSCRIBE   |   UPDATE YOUR PROFILE   |   MORE EMAIL NEWSLETTERS   |   PRIVACY POLICY Was this email forwarded to you? If so, sign up to start receiving your own copy. ABOUT THIS MAILING LIST You have received this message because you subscribed to the "Management Tip of the Day" email newsletter from Harvard Business Review. If at any point you wish to remove yourself from this list, change your email address, or sign up for other email newsletters and alerts, please visit the Harvard Business Review Email Newsletter Preference Center. OPT OUT If you do not wish to receive any email messages from Harvard Business Review, click here. ADVERTISE WITH HBR This enewsletter is read by thousands of decision makers every day. Learn more about connecting your brand with this audience. Copyright © 2011 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing | 60 Harvard Way | Boston, MA 02163 Customer Service: 800-545-7685 (+1-617-783-7600 outside the U.S. and Canada)