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Do you wish you had the ability to inspire people into action--creating more successful and rewarding results? Would you like to know how to get people working towards the same goal in a way that everyone enjoys? Whether you already have good communication skills under your belt, you've taken business communication courses and are in the process of practicing what you've learned, or if you're just beginning to look into new business communication methods, this article will help you take your business communication to the next level by teaching you to create alignment with other people. What is alignment, and how can you create it? Read on to find out!

~ Alignment - It's Not Just for Tires Anymore ~

Most of society only thinks about an alignment when they schedule their next tune up or vehicle service. However, "alignment" is encountered in other aspects of life that do not include vehicles. It does, however, operate in the same manner. In order for your vehicle to perform properly and over a period of time you must make sure that your tires are working together and in the same direction. The same can be said for any business relationship. A business can only flourish if all partners are on the same page--heading in the same destination.

This discussion is not about skillfully enhancing your communication or even acquiring innovative listening techniques. Productive business communication or any interaction when people are required to accomplish goals starts with alignment.

Let's look at things from a different perspective. We have individual goals and aspirations that hold importance in our lives. At the same time, we work with others towards common business goals. Alignment is about defining overlaps between individual goals and common business goals. It aims to create a win-win situation by allowing us to achieve our individual goals as we work towards attaining strategic business goals. By visualizing our individual goals as a part of the organizational goals, we avoid situations wherein these may clash. A proper definition of overlaps allows us to achieve both, individual as well organizational goals.

~ Aligning Yourself Internally ~

You have to identify and to be able to state why you are seeking your desired result before you can properly create alignment with other people. This requires you to examine the values that lead you to consider your desired outcome optimal. For example, let's say that you want everyone attending an office meeting to be there ten minutes before it is scheduled to start. The value behind this requirement may be that you value effectiveness highly or that you appreciate the consideration implied when people arrive before the scheduled time. When seeking alignment, keep in mind why you are looking for the outcome that you want.

~ Making It Happen: Having an Discussion to Align Your Team ~

After you have determined what your own basic values are, you should next begin to determine what values you bring when working others. Next, working together, begin to clarify your colleagues values--what's most important to them in relation to the atmosphere in the office. After that, identify what shared values are of importance to everyone, and whether they wish to collaborate in the creation of that kind of atmosphere by implementing your mutual vision. You might articulate it as achieving more peaceful relations or stepping up effectiveness and productivity. Once you have made your mutual goals clear, you can begin to achieve what you wish to accomplish.

Key points for the alignment conversation:

As you begin the alignment conversation, strategy should remain a non-topic issue if it is at all possible. At this point in the conversation, we recommend that you and the other person agree to focus not on your individual goals, but on your shared vision. There will be an ample amount of time to focus on these goals once the alignment is agreed upon. The alignment is a look to the future, so try to avoid bringing up past mishaps. (These past accidental errors can be effective learning tools if they are used to prevent the mistakes from re-occurring. However, if they are brought to the fore front only to place blame, then they should be avoided at all costs.)

Here are some other things to discuss in your conversation:

An agreement to let go of past criticism and judgment, to celebrate the positive results that come from this discussion, and a willingness to talk about strategies that will result in optimal outcomes for everyone involved.

Once you are sharing the same vision, you're now working toward the same end result -- the big picture of what you all want. This will make it easier to create situations that produce results that everyone will enjoy.

When you catch the vision of those around you and begin to work together in a spirit of unity and teamwork, your load will be lighter, your productivity higher, and everyone will reap the rewards.

Creating alignment is just one way we've found to actively create dynamic relationships and improve all your business communications. For more tips, suggestions and advice, sign up for our free thought-provoking and motivational Weekly Action Tips eMail series at: http://www.FocusedAttention.com/cmd.php?ad=317928. Each tip offers practical advice for creating the relationships that you really want. Or visit us at: http://www.FocusedAttention.com