Here is another valuable Management Tip of the Day from Harvard Business Review. To sign up for a free subscription to any/all HBR newsletters, please click here.

Alignment simply makes things easier.

When people and processes are in sync, it takes less time and energy to go from A to Z. Here are three areas where it is essential for decisions and actions to line up:

1. Your brand promise and the market need. Customers are loyal to you when you give them what they want. Make sure what you promise to them is something the market needs.

2. Investors’ interests and the top team’s goals. The executive team and those funding the operation need to see eye to eye. Otherwise, you spend too much time sorting out disagreements rather than building business.

3. Products you offer and target customers. All companies must decide which customers to serve. A “middle of the road” solution pleases no one. Know your key customers and make sure your products satisfy them.

Today’s Management Tip was adapted from “We Can’t Agree to Disagree” by Nilofer Merchant.

To read that article and join the discussion, please click here.