How we create line of sight from company vision to team priorities
When alignment works: Teams can prioritize without escalating, decisions happen faster, and resources flow to the work that matters most.
We don't rise to the level of our goals—we fall to the level of our systems. This framework is how we build that system.
Adapted from Patrick Lencioni's "The Advantage" — organizational health is a competitive advantage, and clarity is at the heart of it.
| Question | Answer | Company | Team | Cadence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Why do we exist? | Mission | ● | — | Annual |
| 2. What are we building? | Vision | ● | — | Annual |
| 3. Who do we want to be? | Values | ● | — | Annual |
| 4. How will we succeed? | Strategic Focus | ● | ● | Annual |
| 5. What do we need to do now? | Priorities | ● | ● | Quarterly |
| 6. Who must do what by when? | Roles & Accountability | ● | ● | Ongoing |
| 7. How do we know we're succeeding? | Health Metrics | ● | ● | Ongoing |
This week: Strategic Focus and Priorities — company sets theirs, then teams ladder up
Next: Roles & Accountability and Health Metrics
Bill presents the company-level answers on Wednesday. Then each team creates their own Strategic Focus and Priorities that ladder up.
Every Team Strategic Focus should connect to a Company Strategic Focus. Every Q1 Priority should advance a Team Strategic Focus. This creates clear line of sight from your work to company vision.
When priorities are clear and visible, you can move faster:
The test: If anyone on your team is asked "what are your team's priorities this quarter?" — they should be able to answer clearly and consistently.
We're building this together. Bill will present the company Vision, Values, and Strategic Focus. Then each team creates their own.
Annual outcome-driven actions your team is committed to. Each should ladder to a Company Strategic Focus. Include success criteria.
Where your team will focus this quarter to advance your Strategic Focus. Each should have clear success criteria.
We've built a tool to collect Strategic Focus and Priorities in real time. As you hear the company context and refine your thinking, you can update directly—no slides to rebuild, no waiting for someone to compile.
Features:
We're starting simple on purpose. Rather than trying to nail everything at once—Strategic Focus, Priorities, KPIs, metrics, tracking—we're taking a "two-putt" approach. This week: Strategic Focus and Priorities with success criteria. Next: translate those into Health Metrics. This is intentional, not incomplete.