September 27, 2025

The Strategic Alignment Illusion: Why Leaders Think Teams Are Aligned (When They’re Not)


Leaders Consistently Overestimate Strategic Alignment

Leaders often talk about strategic alignment as if it were a binary state. 

In reality, organizational alignment is a moving spectrum, and most organizations tend to occupy a murky middle ground between high and low levels of strategic cohesion. 

Yet, many executives report that they are convinced that their teams are more aligned and more committed than they truly are.  

This gap between strategic perception and strategic reality can derail strategy execution, team engagement, and organizational performance.

One of the primary reasons leaders overestimate strategic alignment is that when leaders communicate strategy — through town halls, memos, or offsite retreats — they often mistake message delivery for message absorption, agreement, and commitment. 

The research about why and what to do about it is clear. Where do your teams stand?

About LSA Global

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