Why an alignment workshop could be your smartest strategic move

What prevents good strategies from being implemented effectively?

Studies show that only one in three transformations in today’s digital world delivers what it promises. Success is often measured by whether at least 50% of strategic goals are achieved – and only a few companies manage to clearly differentiate themselves from the competition in the long term.

A crucial but often overlooked factor: insufficient preparation before the actual strategy work begins. This is precisely where an alignment workshop for successful strategy implementation comes in.

Why an alignment workshop is indispensable

Many companies start their strategic planning with ambitious goals, visions and market analyses – and overlook the fact that there are often unspoken tensions, conflicting expectations or different leadership styles within the management team.

An alignment workshop highlights these differences, provides clarity and ensures that everyone involved is on the same page from the outset. This significantly increases the likelihood that the strategy will not only be developed but also successfully implemented.

Typical signs of misalignment:

• Teams talk about collaboration, but operate in silos.
• Strategy days appear productive, but remain without concrete implementation.
• Innovation projects fail due to an excessive culture of control.

Contents of an alignment workshop

An alignment workshop for successful strategy implementation is compact, practical and tailored to the team. Typical elements include:

Leadership analysis: What is each person’s attitude towards innovation and change?

Recognising areas of tension: paradoxes (e.g. stability vs. innovation) control them instead of dissolving them.

Joint working model: Developing clear paths through complex requirements.

Scenario work: Review assumptions and stress test priorities.

This creates a team that not only has common goals, but also has the necessary trust and clarity to consistently implement these goals.

Tools for the alignment workshop

1. iCLi Profile (Innovative leadership behaviour)

Shows whether managers tend to be explorers (new ideas, bold steps) or preservers (stability, systematic approach). This allows strengths and potential points of friction to be identified at an early stage.

2. Canvas for conflicting requirements

Helps to reveal tensions such as freedom vs. control or openness vs. focus and balance them productively.

3. „Ideas racing line“ – Shaping innovation pathways

Based on the ideal line in motor racing: finding the best balance between speed and control while developing sustainable innovation paths.

Conclusion: Successful strategy implementation begins with alignment

A successful strategy does not come about through plans alone. It is crucial that management teams develop clarity, trust and a shared orientation before the strategy day.

An alignment workshop for successful strategy implementation offers exactly that: it creates the basis for strategies to not only look good on paper, but to actually be implemented in everyday life.

Investing in alignment gives you a decisive edge – and ensures that your strategy leads to sustainable success.

|Andrew Grant