The Gravity of Misalignment: A Leadership Lesson

I thought to myself, "Is this really happening?" as I scanned the agenda for our quarterly strategic offsite. There, buried in the middle of the page, was my name - Brent, Founder, CEO, and Chief Vision Multiplier. One line lower than it should have been.

Some might call it a minor oversight. But as a leader, I know that details matter. They signal what - and who - we value. If they only knew the countless hours I've poured into crafting our mission, articulating our values, and embodying the change I wish to see in the world. And yet, here I was, misaligned with my own agenda.

In that moment, I realized my name's placement was a canary in the coal mine of our company's culture. Had we strayed so far from our founding principles of ownership and accountability that even our most sacred documents had fallen prey to complacency?

I knew what I had to do. I called an emergency all-hands meeting and vulnerably shared my experience. I spoke of the importance of sweating the small stuff, of how every interaction is an opportunity to reinforce our values. Some tears were shed, but they were tears of growth.

Together, we recommitted to a culture of excellence. We realigned our priorities and our font hierarchies. And though it was a tough conversation, I knew it was necessary for the long-term health of our organization.

Leadership isn't about titles or placement on an agenda. It's about having the courage to stand up for what matters, even when it's uncomfortable. It's about the willingness to have the hard conversations that shape our shared future.

Grateful for the lessons, even the painful ones. Proud of this team's resilience and receptivity to realignment. Onward to a brighter, more aligned future.

How have you championed alignment in your own organization? What tough conversations have you been avoiding that might just lead to your next breakthrough?

#leadership #culture #alignment #growth #Seriouslywhomadethisagenda