Goal alignment is the practice of connecting goals at every level - individual, team, organisational - so that what a person works on day to day visibly contributes to the organisation's broader strategy, rather than existing in isolation.
What it means
Alignment is usually achieved by cascading: organisational objectives are set first, then teams and individuals define their own goals in support of them, often using the OKR framework to make the connection explicit.
Where it fits in
Without alignment, a performance cycle can produce goals that are individually well-formed (SMART, measurable) but collectively disconnected from what the business actually needs - alignment is the check that closes that gap.
Key rules
- Connects individual, team and organisational goals into one coherent set.
- Achieved by cascading goals down from organisational objectives.
- Often implemented through the OKR framework.
- Prevents well-formed goals from being collectively disconnected from strategy.
