The days of five-year-old soccer games are just a fond memory for me. I can still picture the random players crouched down, fixated on that bright yellow dandelion sprouting up from the fresh green grass. Not a care in the world. No awareness of the mass of five-year-old’s swarming one stationary ball at the other end of the field struggling to get close to the goal without much of a chance. Teamwork has not even been a thought up to this point for some of these adorable future soccer stars. As adults we find this insulated thinking and appreciation of mother nature, pure, endearing, and filled with innocence. This thinking does not translate well when it comes to vision casting and goal alignment.

Five-year-old’s focused on just “kicking the ball” don’t stand much of a chance getting the ball in the net. Many leaders struggle with achieving their goals. They wrestle with the task of coming up with a clear vision. When everyone is not involved and headed in the same direction we have no one to bounce ideas off of. Brainstorming is nonexistent. We leave all that power and strength we have as a team on the field, untapped. It becomes fertilizer for dandelions. Distractions seem to sprout up overnight. We can be heading in one direction only to be distracted and start over on the next big thing. We get eighty percent there then veer of the path.

So how do we stay on track? How do we continue down the field toward a common goal in unison with our team? Can it be as simple as involving all leaders? I’m not saying it will be simple if we involve all leaders in vision casting and goal alignment, but it will increase our chances exponentially with every leader that joins the team and contributes. There is strength in numbers. Many hands make light work. A stick in a bundle can’t be broken. I think each of these phrases takes new meaning when applied to a leadership team. These words have been spoken for years but sum up the need perfectly for all leaders to be involved in the vision and goals of their organization. Without knowing what direction the goal is, how will we all work as a team to get there. As leaders we must be involved in the vision and goals of our organization. If you or your team are not in alignment, or not sure if you are, now is the time to get on the same page. Set up regular meetings to touch base and verify you are all working on projects that direct your team to their true north. Save the distractions for Saturday mornings filled with your favorite 5-year-old’s. Align your goals during the week so you can enjoy the Saturday dandelion.