On how "speed of play" depends on the happy marriage of autonomy and alignment.

In today’s fast-moving business environment, speed and agility demand field-level decision-making rather than relying solely on war room decision-making.

In traditional, highly centralized organizations, plans are made in the “war room,” where leadership dictates actions for those in the field. While this structure creates high alignment, it sacrifices autonomy. As George Stalk notes in Anatomy of a Disruptor, this approach leads to "rigidity and degrading of responsiveness."

Modern organizations prioritize field-level decision-making, empowering individuals to make informed decisions closer to the action. However, autonomy without structure can lead to chaos. The key to productive autonomy is alignment, and the recipe for alignment lies in the Three C’s:

Clarity

Clarity begins with clearly articulated goals and a shared understanding of the “why.” Everyone in the organization must know:

• What are we striving for?

• Why does it matter?

• How are we progressing, and what evolving conditions must we address?

Clarity ensures that all efforts are aligned with the broader mission, allowing teams to stay focused and purpose-driven.

Coordination

Coordination is about enabling the seamless flow of information and context. It ensures that team members have high visibility into what others are doing and understand:

• What is today’s key priority for me and those around me?

• How does my work contribute to the overall mission?

Effective coordination minimizes redundancies and inefficiencies, ensuring that all actions work in concert toward shared goals.

Connection

Connection takes alignment to the next level by creating the conditions where the organization’s collective capabilities can be fully leveraged. It ensures that:

• Skills, talents, interests, and passions of team members are recognized and searchable.

• Past professional and educational experiences are accessible to the team.

• The right people with the right expertise can be quickly applied to meet challenges head-on.

Connection isn’t just about interpersonal relationships; it’s about harnessing the full depth of your team’s potential. When connection is achieved, challenges are met with agility, resources are applied with precision, and individuals feel empowered to contribute meaningfully to the mission.

The Military’s Mission Command as a Blueprint

In recent years, the US military has sought to modernize the concept of "mission command" to make itself a more agile organization - where shared clarity drives high autonomy. One architect of this modernization effort is General Martin E. Dempsey who explains in Mission Command, the intent is to:

• Understand the problem.

• Envision the end state.

• Visualize the operation’s nature and design.

This approach fosters decentralized decision-making while maintaining alignment with the overarching mission. The result is a balance of speed, precision, and adaptability.

High Alignment + High Autonomy = Competitive Advantage

When organizations integrate clarity, coordination, and connection, they unlock their full potential. Clarity provides direction. Coordination ensures seamless action. Connection taps into the organization’s collective strengths to overcome challenges with speed and effectiveness.

This combination enables high alignment and high autonomy, driving results while building a resilient, engaged, and capable workforce. The Three C’s form the foundation for modern organizations to thrive—moving fast, working smart, and staying ahead in a competitive world.