CoFounders - How to create Alignment at EVERY level

What's the ONE thing you want to ensure with your cofounder before moving forwards, regardless of where you are on your business journey?

1. 50+50 = 150 = Greater than the sum of our parts

Achieving individual 'success' through the business is the primary concern, as far as I can tell. Secondary, is how we each contribute as part of a collective. Thirdly, is how we support each other to contribute to a common cause, while achieving success at the individual level.

And the best way to do this is by building the business we are both proud of.

We know we are better together. That when aligned, we are greater than the sum of our parts. That we can unlock more of our potential through this magic union.

Where alignment is present, potential is realised.

Misalignment is the most common issue we experience as cofounders, and this starts from a lack of clarity around where it is we're going, and then by how we intend on getting there. Then, by what that would look like in reality.

Where there is alignment, there is clarity on the cause, purpose, and vision. There is confidence that we have what it takes to get there. And there is commitment to our chosen pathway.

3. Rs of Full Alignment: Resilience, Resourcefulness, Reliability.

When there is alignment at every level, we're maximising our potential by being resilient, resourceful, and reliable. This is about the reputation we want to create for ourselves. This is at every level of our existence - as individuals, as a team and as a business.

Here's what that looks like:

1. Resilience - we are able to respond to the unknown, deal with conflicts as and when they arise, recognise misalignment, and then realign.
2. Resourcefulness - we're doing more with less, always thinking about what is possible and what is within our control.
3. Reliability - we're doing what we said we would do, and we're doing it well!

7: The Key Aspects Of Alignment

This is a sneak preview of The One Page Plan, where we go into these topics of planning, action and reflection.

1. Your Legacy statement - what legacy do you want to leave behind when you're done with the business? What impact do you want to have?
2. Your Purpose - why are you doing what you're doing? What drives you? What are you bringing to the table?
3. Your Chosen Values - no more than 5, and each with a value statement ( i.e what that value looks like when it's played out in reality). These are unconditional, and show up in absolutely everything you say and do.
4. Your 3 Guiding Principles - where we look at the last 12 months (or less if you haven't worked together for a year yet), and consider the three main lessons you've learnt - from your main achievements and the major disappointments.
5. Your Empowering Culture statement - what do you want to believe about yourselves, and the world you are creating? What do you want your people to believe?
6. Your Roles - what roles do you play, and what roles do you want to play individually?What are the clear accountabilities? How does this relate to competence, and interest?
7. Your Goals - no more than 10 outcome goals, describing what would you want to achieve 12 months from now? The process isn't important here.

These are the 7 elements of your version of The One Page Plan.

It will acts as the framework for your unconditional monthly review, where you look back at the past month, reflect on how aligned you are to the plan, and what your intentions are for the next month.

This will significantly increase the chances of identifying any misalignment before it plays out into conflict, and to reaffirm where the alignment still exists.