Every market segment is brutally competitive.
To win, you must unleash the accelerating power of alignment.
Unfortunately, too many companies are fragmented, siloed, and dysfunctional.
We have had the privilege of working with leaders in dozens of different industries. Some of our clients include:
- Venture-Backed Startups – Silvercar
- Health Care – Advanced Patient Advocacy
- Technology – Sonic Wall, Agile Fleet, SiteOrganic, Infoition, Moreover Technologies
- Professional Services – Campaign Solutions, NeoSystems, SpeakerBox, Top Gun Ventures
- Construction – Bognet Construction, Signature Companies
- Associations – Tech America, The Alliance to Save Energy, US Wrestling Foundation
- Real Estate – Long & Foster, Coldwell Banker, RE/Max
- Non-Profits – The American Red Cross
- Government Contractors – Versar, Valiant, BTI360, Group W, Davis International
- Think Tanks – The Heritage Foundation
- Hospitality – Meadowkirk Resort
- Franchising – Rita's Water Ice
- Financial Services – Visa International
- Private Equity Rollups – Ministry Brands
While each company had unique challenges, there was One Thing they all had in common.
They all knew that unleashing the accelerating power of alignment was key to their success.
PRO-BONO WORK FOR NON-PROFITS
SHIFTPOINTS believes in giving back. (To whom much is given, much is required.)
Therefore, we invest ten percent of our time and resources with non-profits, churches, and ministries.
Some of the fantastic and inspiring organizations we have served include:
- Social Services – The Christopher Atwood Foundation
- Ministries – The Fellowship of Christian Athletes, The CS Lewis Institute
- Churches – McLean Bible Church, Reston Bible Church, Cornerstone Chapel, Restoration City Church
- Schools – Providence Academy
To be considered for a pro-bono engagement, please contact us.
DIVISIONS, SILOS, AND FIEFDOMS
When companies are small, they are in One Business. They target One Market. They sell One Product. There is One P&L. Everyone probably sits in One Office. But, as companies grow, they create divisions.
There is only One Problem: divisions—by definition—divide.
Just to be clear, even small, One Business businesses can have alignment problems. (We’ve even worked with solopreneurs, otherwise known as One Person Companies, who had alignment problems.)
But the larger you are, the more likely you will struggle with strategic alignment. The big turning point is when your company creates divisions.
Some companies divide by product line. Some divide by geography. Some create business units. Some organize by function.
How is your company divided?
By product? By market? By function? By geography? Some other way?
Once your company has divisions, you must decide if it is important to align them.
Yes, “if.
Theoretically, your company could allow the divisions to operate totally autonomously, with virtually no alignment. Some companies, such as Berkshire Hathaway and Virgin, operate as a “company of companies.” There is just a very thin, lightweight corporate alignment process to hold the operating companies together.
However, most companies decide that it is indeed important to create a high level of alignment.
“We must unite the divisions!”
Companies must align the divisions with corporate and they align the divisions with each other.
In addition, each division adds their own strategies, goals, standards, priorities, policies, etc. to the things that cascaded down from corporate. Then, departments are expected to align with both the things that cascaded down from corporate and the things that cascaded down from the division.
And on and on it goes.
The alignment challenge grows exponentially once a company has multiple divisions. Aligning a company with two divisions is four times harder. Aligning a company with four divisions is sixteen times harder.
We call this the Alignment Complexity Index.
Does your company work as One Company?
