TOP Coalition Formation

Note: This event is redundant for companies not operating at scale. If your organization is small enough that the relevant people are already in the same room or naturally form working groups, you don't need a formal Coalition Formation event. This is for organizations where power is distributed and needs explicit alignment.

Purpose

Assemble the coalition that actually moves the system. This event brings together the few people who hold the authority, expertise, and influence to execute—the ones who make decisions that stick. When this coalition aligns, execution accelerates and decisions cut through organizational noise. Without it, work slows and progress stalls.

Execution

Triggers:	Defined TOP Goals that require a coalition
Time:	20-30 minutes
Who:	2-7 people required to drive the TOP Goals
Outcome:	A clear coalition, an overview of the coalition's representation, influence, sovereignty and expertise, and a working agreement to move forward with the TOP Goals.

Event Agenda

This agenda is the HOW. It compresses the real forces of the system into one room so the coalition becomes impossible to ignore. The conversation focuses on impact, friction, and the alignment required for the system to move.

Activity	Purpose
Revisit the TOP Goals	Ensure everyone is aligned on intent, tradeoffs and expected outcomes.
Roles & Contribution	Each member clarifies why they are here and what they contribute. Reveal gaps, overlaps, and missing representation.
RISE Check	Verify that Representation, Influence, Power, and Expertise are present and sufficient. Adjust the coalition if needed.
Working Agreements	Define expectations, communication, decision rules, and friction reduction mechanisms.
Collaboration Rhythm	Decide how long the coalition operates, how often it meets, and what signals trigger adjustments.

Operating Manual

Quick Checklist

Inputs: TOP Goal(s), identified stakeholders, known constraints
Outputs: complete coalition (RISE), clarified roles, initial working agreements, collaboration rhythm
Success: no gaps in Representation/Influence/Power/Expertise

Contribution Scaffold

Use these prompts to clarify roles and contribution without slipping into job titles:

                    Role: I represent [perspective/domain]
                    Contribution: I bring [expertise/authority/reach]
                    Decisions: I am accountable for [X]
                    Risks: We rely on me for [critical dependency]
                    Boundaries: I do not cover [areas not in my remit]

RISE Prompts

Use these questions to quickly detect gaps or overload:

Representation: Is every affected domain/perspective present?
Influence: Can everyone here meaningfully shape outcomes?
Sovereignty: Can this coalition make binding decisions?
Expertise: Do we have the skills to succeed without escalation?

If any element is missing, pause and adjust the coalition.

Working Agreement Examples

Keep them short and outcome-oriented. Sample agreements:

We challenge ideas, not people.
Decisions are made in the room; re-open only with new information.
Signals trigger action, we don't wait for meetings.
We keep friction visible and resolve it early.

Next Step

With a fully formed coalition and clear working agreements, proceed to the Mission Launch Event, where the coalition aligns on cadence, signals, risks, and the first operational cycle.