September has a unique energy. It often feels like a ‘second new year’, with a burst of energy that quickly collides with deadlines, shifting priorities, and the push to close Q4 strong. For some of us, culturally, it is a true new year, which only adds to the sense of transition and renewal. The pace picks up fast, and what was a beautiful summer mindset can quickly turn to overwhelm.
And here’s the hidden trap: after summer, everyone returns carrying assumptions. Leaders assume their teams are aligned, and individual contributors assume priorities haven’t shifted. People come back thinking others know which projects matter most, who owns what, and how everything connects.
But change doesn’t pause in July and August. Priorities shift, roles evolve, and schedules move while people are away. Add in the haze of “vacation brain,” and it’s easy to believe alignment is intact when in reality it has slipped.
The Pain of Misalignment
Like stress in our bodies, organizational misalignment shows up in symptoms. These aren’t random inconveniences; they’re signals trying to tell us that something is off. Too often, leaders and teams treat the surface problems without addressing the root cause: lack of clarity and alignment.
Here’s how those signals show up when alignment issues are at play:
- Confusion over priorities. “Do we finish the client deliverable or prep for the QBR meeting?” Without clear sequencing, teams spin in debate instead of moving forward.
- Duplicated effort. Two people spend hours working on the same task in silos, while another critical piece goes untouched.
- Unclear accountability. Ownership is unclear, so when the deadline arrives, it’s revealed that the task has slipped through the cracks.
These aren’t minor issues to shrug off. Misalignment erodes trust, slows momentum, and drains energy. What looks like small inefficiencies in September compounds into frustration, burnout, and missed opportunities by December.
These signals may feel frustrating, but they’re not random. They’re clues pointing toward what your team really needs: clarity. And one of the best tools for restoring it is backwards planning.
A Team Alignment Strategy: Backwards Planning
If the symptoms of misalignment are signals, then backwards planning is one of the best ways to respond. Instead of charging ahead with fall priorities, step back and realign around the outcomes that truly matter.
Here’s how to use backwards planning to quiet the noise and focus your team’s energy:
1. Define the end-state. Ask: “What must be true by December 31st for us to finish the year strong? Clarity on outcomes reduces the temptation to chase every request.
2. Break down milestones. Work backwards: What must be accomplished in November? October? September?<
3. Assign ownership. For each step, identify a clear owner. Not “the team,” but a specific person accountable for progress.
4. Check assumptions. Ask: “What shifted while we were away? What expectations may have gone stale?” This resets clarity after summer’s moving schedules.
When leaders and teams take even 30 minutes to realign with this process, those earlier “symptoms” (confusion, duplicated work, unclear accountability) resolve before they snowball into full-blown breakdowns.
For Leaders: Align Your Teams
Backwards planning isn’t just a project management trick — it’s a leadership discipline. When you guide your team through this process, you:
- Clarify what truly matters for Q4.
- Reduce wasted energy on duplicated or mis-prioritized work.
- Build trust by showing people how their contributions connect to the bigger picture.
- Coach your team through the misalignment, don’t just tell them what to shift.
I recently worked with a customer success team that was hesitant to slow down and try backwards planning. Their instinct was to push harder and “just push through” the quarter. But once they gave it a chance, the shift was immediate: they uncovered hidden assumptions, spotted time-draining efforts, and quickly realigned around the work that actually mattered.
Within days, they were moving faster, not because they rushed, but because they had clarity on what needed to be done and in what order.
For Individuals: Protect Your Time
Clarity isn’t only an organizational issue; it’s deeply personal. September piles on demands, and without boundaries, it’s easy to get swept into every urgent request.
The result? You spend energy everywhere and make progress nowhere.
To protect yourself:
- Name your top three non-negotiables each week and revisit them regularly.
- Use backwards planning on your own goals: What must be true for me by year-end?
- Practice saying “not now” instead of “yes” to every new ask.
Boundaries aren’t selfish. They’re how you ensure you have the energy to deliver on what matters most: for your team, your family, and yourself.
A Reflection Question
As you head into the busy fall season, ask yourself:
Where am I assuming alignment — with my team or myself — without checking?
Taking 30 minutes to backwards plan could save you weeks of wasted effort and stress.
A short conversation can save weeks of stress. Let’s spend 30 minutes together mapping out what alignment could look like for you.