During our Vision Building™ sessions, my leadership team nods along and agrees to the V/TO®, but once we return to the office, they go right back to running their departments in silos. How do we prevent this fake consensus and ensure the team is genuinely aligned?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Fake alignment during planning sessions is a quiet killer of execution. Leaders often agree to the V/TO® and the quarterly Rocks just to avoid conflict, only to return to their departments and ignore the agreed upon priorities. This passive resistance ruins your operational momentum.

To prevent this, you must use behavioral assessments like the Predictive Index to understand your team's natural wiring. Some leaders are highly collaborative and will avoid speaking up if they feel their opinion might cause tension. Others are fiercely independent and will nod along while fully intending to do things their own way.

During your Vision Building™ sessions, do not settle for quick agreement. Actively hunt for healthy conflict. If a major strategic goal is proposed and everyone immediately nods, stop the session. Force each leader to voice their potential concerns. Use the IDS® process to flush out any hidden disagreements before you finalize your goals.

A truly aligned team does not mean everyone thinks the same way. It means everyone has had their say, their concerns have been addressed, and they have committed to the final decision. Once a decision is made, use your weekly Level 10 Meeting™ and Scorecard to hold everyone accountable to that shared vision, ensuring no one retreats back into their department silo.