When Everyone Rows in the Same Direction

What’s the difference between an efficient team and an exceptional one? Alignment.

Without it, even the most talented professionals end up rowing the boat in opposite directions. With it, every movement — from research to marketing — creates momentum.

In agricultural innovation, alignment is vital. The cycle between the lab, the field, and the market is complex. A researcher may see success as a new mode of action; marketing may see it as a compelling story; R&D may see it as a technically solid product. All of them are right. But if there isn’t clarity on the company’s mission, vision, values, and the project’s objective, the result is noise, not progress.

Mission answers the why.

Vision defines the where to.

Values guide the how.

They’re more than phrases on a wall — they are practical guides for daily decisions. If the purpose is to develop technologies that increase productivity and sustainability, that must be reflected in project goals, in how results are measured, and even in field conversations.

Want to get your team on the same page? Start simple:

• Reinforce the purpose before every important meeting.

• Connect individual goals to the company’s objectives.

• Create weekly review rituals — what we learned, what progressed, what needs realignment.

Innovation flourishes when everyone understands what they’re building — and why it matters.

The challenge isn’t having good ideas. It’s ensuring every idea serves the same future.