Look from the other side
Executives often expect project teams to keep stakeholders aligned. Yet leaders themselves can create uncertainty through changing requests, unresolved disagreements, and decisions made without considering peers. Recognizing that contribution is the first step toward a more useful partnership.
Do the work together
Make priorities and constraints clear, listen when tradeoffs surface, and resolve differences directly with fellow executives. Teams should not have to negotiate contradictions that require senior authority to settle. Alignment cannot simply be managed around leaders; it requires their participation. When the executive team owns shared commitments, it gives the organization a clearer target and a more credible basis for execution.