In the Same Boat: Why Vision Alignment Isn't a One-and-Done Conversation

Lisa McCurdy
Sep 24
2 min read

“We may have all come

on different ships,

but we're in the same boat now.”

– Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

This quote beautifully captures something essential to great leadership: unity of direction. It’s not enough to be in the same company,

we need to be on the same journey, rowing toward the same destination.

In organizations running on EOS®, this concept is foundational. It’s the reason we talk so much about Vision, and why the V/TO (Vision/Traction Organizer) isn’t a document you fill out once and forget.

🚨 Vision Drift is Real

Even with the clearest V/TO, it’s easy for team members to lose sight of the big picture in the day-to-day hustle. Priorities shift, new fires pop up, and focus can drift. That’s why quarterly planning isn't optional, it’s vital to your company’s health. Each quarter is an opportunity to hit pause,look at the big picture, and ask:

Are we still rowing toward the same destination as a company?
Has anything changed that requires us to adjust our course?
Does every team member still understand the vision—and see how their role connects to it?

🎯 The Quarterly Planning Advantage

Quarterly planning isn’t just for setting Rocks. It’s your built-in moment to reassess and realign your vision. It’s the alignment check that turns busy work into purpose-driven action. This is the time to:

Revisit the V/TO and ensure it still reflects where your company is heading.
Adjust the Accountability Chart to match how your team is actually working.
Refresh the Scorecard to keep the most important information and data front and center

🗣️ Use a State of the Company to Reinforce the Vision

Once your leadership team is aligned, it’s time to bring everyone else into the boat—together with a Quarterly State of the Company meeting.

Here’s what that looks like:

Share the Vision (again): Never assume everyone remembers or fully understands it. Say it, show it, and explain it—every quarter.
Celebrate the Wins: Highlight the accomplishments from the past quarter. Acknowledge departments, teams, and individuals who are rowing in the right direction. Recognition builds buy-in.
Cast the Vision Forward: Share the Rocks and priorities for the upcoming quarter. Explain why they matter and how they move the company closer to the vision.

When done well, this meeting becomes a rally cry. It reminds every team member: We're in the same boat. And this is where we’re going.

💬 Final Thought

Alignment isn't a checkbox—it’s a rhythm. It’s not about perfection, but direction. The companies that gain traction and scale sustainably aren’t the ones with the fanciest tools or flashiest strategies. They’re the ones where everyone—regardless of the ship they came in on—knows

where they’re going and why.