Convergence, Alignment…Are They Really That Different?
Convergence – big buzz word out there right now. But what does it really mean? To illustrate, let’s consider some examples that sit outside of the business.
A hockey team works in sync to accomplish its goals. Everyone knows what game is being played, everyone understands what winning looks like, and they know how to score points and keep the rival team from doing the same. It’s not always pretty—sometimes it’s absolutely brutal out there—but together, the team works together toward success.
When success is achieved, the team reacts in unison. All the players raise their sticks in celebration, even though only one player (and maybe an assist) actually smacked the puck in for the goal. The team members celebrate because they understand what winning is and know that every single person contributed to the goal—even those on the bench.
Quickly, they refocus their energy and efforts to defense—again, with a common goal. The team works together, and even when two or three of the players are not directly involved in the play, they continue to focus their efforts on what’s important. Everyone works to protect the action that brings the greatest value for the team, and the overall win for the team is the value.
Now, shift to consider roller derby players.
In a roller derby, all the players are going the same direction. The majority cram together somewhere in the middle in a bunched up group called a “jam,” making it difficult for point-scoring players to pass. This is by strategic design. It’s how the game is played.
In a roller derby, all players might be moving in the same direction, but that doesn’t resolve chaos. The “jammers”—scoring players—rack up points, but aren’t in a great position to know how things are going behind them. Those in the middle are too distracted to see what’s happening up in front or behind them, instead focusing on the battle in the middle—and hoping that others on the team are getting something done. If a point-scoring jammer is a smaller player, there are benefits to hanging back and looking for an opportunity to swing into an open slot, should the fighting in front result in a gap they can capitalize on.
Alignment is successful, but it doesn’t stop the pushing, shoving, and chaos…it’s possible to move in the same direction and align without a great deal in the way of harmony – or in the case of a business – value.
In roller derby, if the goal is alignment, it’s achieved by the nature of the game. Everyone moves in the same direction because of the rules of the rink. Alignment is successful, but it doesn’t stop the pushing, shoving, and chaos. This example confirms that it’s possible to move in the same direction and align without a great deal in the way of harmony—or in the case of a business—value.
So what are the differences between convergence and alignment? Most CEOs would say that they’ve grown weary of the aligned roller derby model. Too much pushing, pulling, and fighting with too little value.
“Isn’t there a way to seek, measure, and optimize value as one team? How do we get past battling one another and focus on winning together?”
Convergence, fostered by a strong business relationship management capability, is the difference. It defines winning in a way that allows all the players to hold their sticks in the air and celebrate, because we win together.
Want to learn what it takes to get your team out of the roller rink and into the hockey rink? Be watching for new content to the BRMiBOK that can help in making that transition.
Starla Borges is a business leader with over 25 years of experience, including over 15 years of accountability for account management and business relationship management functions for both private and Fortune 1000 firms. Starla’s work in business relationship management has been largely focused on business transition management and value management program creation.
Starla holds the BRMP® certification, CBRM® certification, a master certification in business analysis, and has earned a master’s degree in strategic leadership from Black Hills State University. A previously syndicated writer, she will publish her first book, Organizational Athleticism, in late 2016.
