Bring Strategic Alignment to Your Team using Get Who To By
Team alignment is like herding cats—everyone has their own agenda and somehow, the collective goal gets lost in the shuffle. You need a framework that cuts through the noise and forces clarity. Enter Get Who To By. This framework helps you nail down exactly who needs to be on the same page, what they’re currently doing that’s wrong, how to communicate effectively, and the best way to make them actually do it. Say goodbye to endless meetings where everyone pretends to agree.
The TL;DR
Use the Get Who To By framework to bring your team into strategic alignment: GET (identify the key players), WHO (understand their current behaviors), TO (craft a clear message), and BY (establish actionable steps). This keeps your team focused and prevents the usual drift into chaos.
Why Get Who To By Works for Team Alignment
Because most team meetings are a free-for-all where opinions fly, but decisions don’t land. This framework cuts through the noise and provides a structured approach that forces everyone to get on the same page.
The Four Steps
GET
Who are the essential team members that need to align?
Focus on those who impact the outcome most. Not every stakeholder needs to be in the room. Pick the ones whose buy-in is non-negotiable. If their input won't change anything, leave them out.
WHO
What are the current behaviors and frustrations of these team members?
Identify what they’re doing now that’s leading to misalignment. Are they communicating poorly? Are they stuck in their own silos? Recognizing these issues will help you craft your approach.
TO
How do we make the objective ridiculously clear?
The message should be so straightforward that even a sleep-deprived intern could understand it. No jargon, no fluff—just the exact action you want them to take and why it matters.
BY
What specific mechanisms will ensure they follow through?
Establish clear follow-up steps that everyone agrees to. Whether it’s a shared document, a project management tool, or weekly check-ins, make sure there’s a system in place to keep everyone accountable.
Common Team Alignment Blunders
(Trust Us, We've Been There)
- ×Including everyone and their dog in discussions.
- ×Ignoring team members' actual pain points.
- ×Crafting messages that sound like corporate jargon.
- ×Failing to establish a follow-up mechanism.
- ×Assuming everyone knows the objectives.
- ×Relying on meetings instead of actionable tools.
- ×Not clearly defining roles and responsibilities.
- ×Letting personal agendas overshadow team goals.
Avoid these missteps and you're already steering your team toward success. Seriously, if you can dodge these landmines, you're light years ahead of most teams.
Real Examples
Cross-Departmental Project
Aligning marketing and sales teams for a product launch.
GET
Marketing and Sales Managers.
WHO
Both teams have their own priorities and often assume the other is on the same page, leading to miscommunication.
TO
Align on a unified launch message that resonates with our target audience.
BY
Implementing a weekly alignment meeting with a clear agenda and shared objectives documented in a project management tool.
Why this works
By identifying key players and their current frustrations, the teams can work together with a clear message and actionable steps, reducing confusion and promoting teamwork.
New Initiative Rollout
Aligning the tech and customer support teams for a new software rollout.
GET
Tech and Customer Support Leads.
WHO
Tech team is focused on features, while support team is worried about customer queries—they aren't communicating effectively.
TO
Ensure that support can handle customer questions about new features seamlessly.
BY
Creating a shared knowledge base and running training sessions before the launch date.
Why this works
This ensures both teams know what to expect and can address any customer concerns proactively, making the rollout smoother.
Annual Strategy Planning
Bringing clarity to the annual strategy meeting.
GET
Department Heads.
WHO
Each head comes in with their own departmental goals that often contradict each other.
TO
Establish a unified company vision for the upcoming year.
BY
Using a collaborative workshop to define the company’s main objectives and how each department contributes.
Why this works
Facilitates open dialogue and ensures everyone knows their role in the bigger picture, reducing future conflicts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do we ensure everyone understands the objectives?
Use the Get Who To By framework to identify key players and craft a ridiculously clear message that everyone can rally behind.
What if some team members resist alignment?
It might happen. Address their concerns directly, using insights from the WHO step to understand their motivations and frustrations.
How can we measure if alignment is working?
Set clear KPIs related to team collaboration and project outcomes. If they’re improving, you’re on the right track.
Can this framework be used for remote teams?
Absolutely. Just make sure your communication tools are up to par and everyone has access to the same information.
What if we still need to involve more people later?
You can always loop in additional team members later, but start with your core group to avoid overwhelming discussions.
Generate a Framework for your Product Launch Strategy
Use our framework generator to generate various Get Who To By, 4C, 4 Points Strategy, and other frameworks — all in one place and directly to editable Google SLIDES!
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