Building a Vision: How to Align Teams on Innovative Ideas
To build a successful product, you need to rally your team around a big idea—something ambitious, even a bit “hey, are you nuts?” But building a shared vision isn’t about imposing your ideas on others; it’s about planting seeds, sparking curiosity, and letting people find their own way. Here’s how to align teams on innovative ideas, inspired by my conversations with Robert.
Seeding Ideas
Aligning teams starts with planting ideas early on. It’s not about big announcements but subtle conversations that get people thinking. Like I said to Robert, “What would it be like if we sold electric cars at Best Buy?” Casual ideation sparks interest without pressure to execute right away, but only if you’re willing to think in blue sky and the rules don’t apply.
Dreamcrushers can be a major obstacle here—they’re the ones who think creativity is a waste of time and can’t see the value in exploring the unknown. They can’t think in blue sky because they’re focused on immediate deliverables and metrics. But everyday innovation doesn’t have to take a lot of time. It’s about planting seeds that grow into something bigger later. By allowing space for these creative explorations, you actually get better results and more innovative solutions because your team feels empowered to think beyond the day-to-day grind.
As Robert put it, “We are three weeks away from Q4—like what are you talking about?” The idea isn’t to force action at the wrong time but to let ideas grow naturally, giving people room to explore and contribute in their own way.
Building Alignment Over Time
Alignment takes time, iteration, and involvement. It’s a collective effort, not just one person’s idea. As Robert said, “Sometimes an idea can fail simply because it’s brought up at the wrong time.” Knowing when to push and when to wait makes all the difference.
To build alignment, get the right people involved early, make room for feedback, and ensure everyone feels invested. Let the team contribute actively, so they feel like they’re part of creating something, not just following along.
Psychological Safety
Innovation thrives in environments where people feel safe to take risks. Great ideas come when people aren’t afraid of failing. As Robert said, “There’s always going to be swirling and chaos.” We need that freedom to wander, mess up, and learn.
Root out “dreamcrushers”—those who discourage creativity. Dreamcrushers often think that exploring new ideas is a waste of time, that there are more important things to do. They can’t see that those small moments of creativity lead to everyday innovation, which, in the long run, is what drives better products and more cohesive teams. Encourage open conversation where every idea, even the ones that don’t work, helps build something better. Make sure everyone knows their voice matters.
Creating a Shared Vision
A shared vision is about more than just a big idea—it’s about building a culture around that idea. When Robert and I talked about the two-person unicorn, the real value was in the synergy. Alignment means fostering that synergy across all roles—engineers, designers, and product managers.
Collaboration is key to keeping the human element alive, even with advanced tools like AI. “The collaboration is like where the human element lives,” I said. Articulate the vision clearly but stay flexible. Focus on the why—why this idea, why now, why it matters. When people understand the why, they buy in.
Conclusion
Aligning a team on an innovative vision takes patience, empathy, and a willingness to share control. Plant the seeds, nurture them, and create an environment safe for exploration. A shared vision grows by inspiring people to see what’s possible and contribute their unique skills. As Robert said, “Maybe you don’t want that idea to have to be perfect, but fostering curiosity and competence is what sparks newness.” That’s when the magic happens.