Bridging The Gap: How To Align Development And Product Teams For Success

“Our teams are talented, enthusiastic and get along OK, but something just isn’t right. I don’t know what it is. In our meetings, there are a lot of heated conversations that often end with a winner and a loser. I hear myself saying, ‘OK. I hear you. Let’s agree to disagree on this one.’ Just to keep things from escalating. But then yet another decision is not made. I know we’re sweeping things under the rug. But I don’t know what to do anymore. Things are starting to get ugly. I’m starting to see this impacting our customers.”

This was a call from a frustrated client. Her teams operated in silos, rarely sharing information and frequently making promises they couldn’t keep. One team was often left scrambling to meet unrealistic deadlines set by another team, leading to stress and burnout. Despite their mutual respect and camaraderie, their professional relationship is tense and inefficient.

Sound familiar? Are you dealing with similar challenges?

Misaligned teams face numerous challenges that hinder their ability to perform optimally. I hear from my clients how much they struggle with many issues. It may seem inconsequential, but even one of these critical issues can derail your efforts:

Fighting Fires: Without a cohesive strategy, teams constantly put out fires instead of proactively addressing potential problems. Teams are in reactive mode focusing on the short-term tasks and outcomes.

Undefined Strategy: Without a clear strategy, teams lack direction and purpose and rely on intuition, leading to inefficiency and confusion. Teams focus on the day-to-day, often missing opportunities and winding up with inconsistent and unpredictable outcomes. Team members pursue their own goals, which may not support the organization's objectives.

Bringing Disparate Groups Together: Teams struggle to integrate different perspectives and skills, leading to fragmented efforts. Without communication, teams are unaware of each other's challenges and priorities, leading to misunderstandings and conflicts.

Hectic Lifestyle: The constant pressure to perform without proper alignment leads to a chaotic work environment. Teams operate with a feast or famine mentality, leading to periods of intense activity followed by lulls, creating an unstable work environment.

Resistance To Change: Misaligned teams often resist change, preferring to stick to familiar routines and processes. Teams that don’t share information hinder collaboration and innovation.

Abdication Of Roles: Team members may neglect their responsibilities, expecting others to pick up the slack.

Instead, Create Your Cohesive, Aligned And Value-Added Teams

A cohesive and aligned team operates like a well-oiled machine. It has a clear, shared vision and understands the importance of its role in achieving that vision. Communication flows freely, and information is shared openly. The team engages in constructive conflict, knowing that healthy debate leads to better solutions. These teams are proactive, strategic and focused on long-term success. They understand each other’s priorities and challenges and work collaboratively to overcome obstacles.

Get Your Team On The Same Page

To align your team, start by establishing a clear vision. Everyone should understand why they are doing what they are doing and how their work contributes to the overall mission. Regular communication is crucial to keep everyone informed and engaged. Encourage team members to share their challenges and successes and to collaborate on solutions. Finally, create an environment where constructive conflict is welcomed to help surface different perspectives and leads to better decision-making.

Three Things You Can Change Today

1. Create An Environment That Generates Constructive Conflict: A Necessity For Innovation

This means encouraging an open dialogue where team members feel safe to express differing opinions. Set clear guidelines for discussions, such as focusing on issues rather than individuals, and ensure that everyone has a chance to speak. Provide training on conflict resolution and practical communication skills. These workshops can help team members understand different perspectives and learn to navigate conflict constructively.Don't forget your own role as a leader—model constructive conflict by demonstrating how to manage disagreements professionally and encouraging diverse viewpoints.

2. Communicate Impactfully: The Backbone Of A Cohesive Team

Implement regular meetings (that you keep!) to keep everyone aligned, address issues, provide updates and share successes. In meetings and other forms of communication, ensure messaging is clear, concise and jargon-free. This will help avoid misunderstandings and ensure that everyone is on the same page. Equally important, encourage team members to practice active listening, where they are fully present. This builds trust and ensures that everyone feels heard.

3. Align Your Team For Ideal Collaboration: You're Most Effective When Aligned With

The Team’s Goals And Values Review your goals to ensure they are clearly defined and shared by the team. This will help ensure everyone understands them and is committed to working toward the same objectives. Support a culture of respect and trust where team members value each other's contributions and expertise. Utilize tools and platforms that facilitate collaboration to streamline workflows and keep everyone connected. It's also important to continuously assess the team's collaboration through regular reviews and feedback sessions. This allows for adjustments and improvements, ensuring the team remains aligned and effective.

A year after implementing these changes, my client saw a remarkable transformation. The two teams, once at odds, now work seamlessly together. They have a clear vision and strategy. Team members are happier and more engaged, and their innovative solutions have propelled the company to new heights. The silos have been broken down, and a culture of collaboration, trust and alignment has taken root. When there are obstacles or disagreements, the teams know how to address them. No longer do they sweep issues under the rug! Although everything is not perfect, they see a significant difference in their people: a decrease in stress and an increase in engagement and ownership.

By focusing on constructive conflict, impactful communication and aligned collaboration, any organization can overcome the challenges of misaligned teams and build a cohesive, value-added team that drives long-term success.