TOP Coalition Sync

Note: For companies not operating at scale, this event collapses into a quick Reality Check. You still need to make sure you didn't drop any balls—that's it. No formal agenda needed, just a brief touchpoint to verify everything is on track.

Purpose

Maintain execution velocity by catching drift before it becomes costly. This regular touchpoint identifies misalignment and missed signals that automated systems don't catch. It keeps the coalition calibrated and prevents small issues from becoming major problems that derail progress.

Execution

Triggers:	Cyclically at regular intervals (e.g., weekly or bi-weekly)
Time:	15-30 minutes
Who:	The full TOP Coalition. All members participate to check for missed signals and strengthen bonds.
Outcome:	Identification of any missed or missing signals, strengthened coalition bonds, and alignment on current state. If signals were missed that indicate disorder, the coalition may proceed to SAM.

Event Agenda

Like all TOP Structure events, the coalition sync event does not need to follow any specific agenda to achieve its purpose. This sample agenda may serve as a guideline for conducting coalition sync events.

Activity	Purpose
Check for Missed Signals	Review what has happened since the last sync. Were there signals that should have been sent but weren't? Were signals sent but not noticed or acted upon? Identify any gaps in signal coverage.
Assess Current State	Share observations about the current state of goals, mission, and approach. Are things moving as expected? Is there drift that didn't trigger an exception signal?
Strengthen Bonds	Use this time to build relationships, share context, and maintain the coalition's working relationships. This bonding is essential for effective collaboration.
Decide on Action	If missed signals or drift indicate that goals, mission, or approach need adjustment, proceed to SAM to realign. Otherwise, continue with current approach and schedule the next sync.

Operating Manual

Quick Checklist

Inputs: Observations since last sync, any concerns about missed signals, current state of goals/mission/approach
Outputs: Identification of missed/missing signals, strengthened bonds, decision on whether to proceed to SAM
When to run: Cyclically at regular intervals (e.g., weekly or bi-weekly) to maintain calibration and bonding

Checking for Missed Signals

During Coalition Sync, look for:

Missing signals: Events or changes that should have generated a signal but didn't
Missed signals: Signals that were sent but not noticed, understood, or acted upon
Signal gaps: Areas where the coalition lacks visibility because signals aren't being generated
Drift without signals: Changes or problems that are occurring but haven't triggered exception signals

Coalition Bonding

Coalition Sync provides time for:

Building and maintaining relationships among coalition members
Sharing context and understanding each other's perspectives
Strengthening trust and working relationships
Creating space for informal communication that signals don't capture

This bonding is essential for effective collaboration and helps the coalition work together more smoothly.

Next Steps

After Coalition Sync:

If missed signals or drift indicate that goals, mission, or approach need adjustment, proceed to SAM to realign.
If everything is on track, continue with the current approach and schedule the next Coalition Sync.
The coalition may also run an optional Scale Across Event in parallel to share learnings.