--- title: "Pas de deux: Creating An Environment Where There is Alignment, Commitment, And Trust" description: Lon Swartzentruber describes how alignment and commitment build trust within a board room. This post concludes this series on board governance. image: https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hubfs/A%20Greater%20Cause_Pas%20de%20deux.jpg --- ![www.designgroupinternational.comhs-fshubfs_DGI Logo (New)DGI Logo - Landscape-1](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hs-fs/hubfs/social-suggested-images/www.designgroupinternational.comhs-fshubfs_DGI%20Logo%20(New)DGI%20Logo%20-%20Landscape-1.png?width=200&height=93&name=www.designgroupinternational.comhs-fshubfs_DGI%20Logo%20(New)DGI%20Logo%20-%20Landscape-1.png) ![www.designgroupinternational.comhs-fshubfs_DGI Logo (New)DGI Logo - Landscape-1](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hs-fs/hubfs/social-suggested-images/www.designgroupinternational.comhs-fshubfs_DGI%20Logo%20(New)DGI%20Logo%20-%20Landscape-1.png?width=200&height=93&name=www.designgroupinternational.comhs-fshubfs_DGI%20Logo%20(New)DGI%20Logo%20-%20Landscape-1.png) ![www.designgroupinternational.comhs-fshubfs_DGI Logo (New)DGI Logo - Landscape-1](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hs-fs/hubfs/social-suggested-images/www.designgroupinternational.comhs-fshubfs_DGI%20Logo%20(New)DGI%20Logo%20-%20Landscape-1.png?width=200&height=93&name=www.designgroupinternational.comhs-fshubfs_DGI%20Logo%20(New)DGI%20Logo%20-%20Landscape-1.png) - [ABOUT US ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/javascript;) - What is Process Consulting? - [MEET US ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/javascript;) - Areas of Specialty - Meet Our Process Consultants - Meet our Partners and Senior Consultants - Meet our Consultants - [Maestro-level leaders](https://www.maestrosuiteadvisors.com/) - [Society for Process Consulting](https://www.maestrosuiteadvisors.com/) - [Culture Change Leadership](https://www.acausegreater.org/) - [BE A CONSULTANT ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/javascript;) - Explore Process Consulting - Community of Practice - Shared Platform - [BE CREDENTIALED](https://linktr.ee/MaestroSuiteAdvisors) - [RESOURCES ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/javascript;) - Blog Library - Books - Podcasts - Cohorts - Case Studies - [ABOUT US ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/javascript;) - What is Process Consulting? - [MEET US ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/javascript;) - Areas of Specialty - Meet Our Process Consultants - Meet our Partners and Senior Consultants - Meet our Consultants - [Maestro-level leaders](https://www.maestrosuiteadvisors.com/) - [Society for Process Consulting](https://www.maestrosuiteadvisors.com/) - [Culture Change Leadership](https://www.acausegreater.org/) - [BE A CONSULTANT ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/javascript;) - Explore Process Consulting - Community of Practice - Shared Platform - [BE CREDENTIALED](https://linktr.ee/MaestroSuiteAdvisors) - [RESOURCES ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/javascript;) - Blog Library - Books - Podcasts - Cohorts - Case Studies Get Started # Pas de deux: Creating An Environment Where There is Alignment, Commitment, And Trust ![Lon L. Swartzentruber](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hubfs/Consultant%20Headshots%20(NEW)/Lon%20L.%20Swartzentruber%20Headshot%20(300x300).png) by [Lon L. Swartzentruber](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/author/lon-swartzentruber) January 15, 2020 ![LS January blog post image](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hs-fs/hubfs/LS%20January%20blog%20post%20image.png?width=340&name=LS%20January%20blog%20post%20image.png) Over the past three months, we have reviewed three environments and three behaviors that can help a board and chief executive achieve a close, collaborative, and trusting relationship with each other. Below is the simple framework that we have been utilizing. ![LS December blog image 2](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hs-fs/hubfs/LS%20December%20blog%20image%202.png?width=1200&name=LS%20December%20blog%20image%202.png) If you have ever watched Swan Lake or The Nutcracker, you know that the people on the dance floor are aligned and deeply committed to each other. In other words, they trust each other.   About a year ago, I was working with a board and a new head of school. The school he inherited had gone through several years of slow decline, a sudden departure of his predecessor, and some of ‘hush hush’ conversations.  This new head of school reached out for help. What became clear through our conversations was that the future of the school wasn’t clear. It’s not that they didn’t have a future, they did, it just wasn’t visible.  We began by developing a clear sense of organizational vision and purpose. To connect those, we sought to better understand the core values of the school—those deeply held values that have been evident since the school’s founding. These values would guide the head of school and the board towards the future and the (yet to be developed) strategic plan to achieve it. So, what does this have to do with board governance? Knowing where you are going and the values that will get you there builds *alignment. Alignment is* an essential environmental quality within any board room. When the board and chief executive are not aligned to the organization’s vision, mission, and core values, doubt can creep in, uncertainty can take hold, and people’s picture of the future can diverge.  Being *committed* to each other means that you are seeing the best in the other person rather than the worst, even when their worst shows up. In executive coaching, we call it ‘holding out their best.’ We hold out the best of the coachee in front of them and coach towards that rather than coaching what is present that particular day. When there is alignment and commitment to each other, trust builds. When there is trust within the board room, an organization’s mission is propelled forward.  Giddy up! Have a question, thought, or example you’d like to share? I’d love to hear it! Please comment below. You may also reach me directly at [lons@designgroupintl.com](mailto:lons@designgroupintl.com). ![LonSwartzentruber_ front page 190 230](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hs-fs/hubfs/LonSwartzentruber_%20front%20page%20190%20230.jpg?width=140&name=LonSwartzentruber_%20front%20page%20190%20230.jpg)   ###### Tags: [nonprofit leadership, ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/topic/nonprofit-leadership) [leadership coaching, ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/topic/leadership-coaching) [lon swartzentruber, ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/topic/lon-swartzentruber) [business, ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/topic/business) [deep dive, ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/topic/deep-dive) [nonprofit, ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/topic/nonprofit) [A Cause Greater Blog](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/topic/a-cause-greater-blog) ![Lon L. Swartzentruber](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hubfs/Consultant%20Headshots%20(NEW)/Lon%20L.%20Swartzentruber%20Headshot%20(300x300).png) Post by [Lon L. Swartzentruber](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/author/lon-swartzentruber) January 15, 2020 I walk alongside leaders, listening to understand their challenges, and helping them lead healthy organizations that flourish. [Follow me on LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lonswartz/) ### Comments ![A Cause Greater Blog](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hs-fs/hubfs/A%20Cause%20Greater%20Blog%20-%20Website%20Thumbnail.png?width=500&height=500&name=A%20Cause%20Greater%20Blog%20-%20Website%20Thumbnail.png) ##### Subscribe Now! #### A Cause Greater Blog Insights on fundamental organizational challenges and how to overcome them from Lon Swartzentruber. *Get these blogs right to your inbox.* [![Design Group International](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/hs-fs/hubfs/_DGI%20Logo%20(New)/DGI%20Logo%20-%20Landscape%20w_%20Tagline_White.png?width=325&height=153&name=DGI%20Logo%20-%20Landscape%20w_%20Tagline_White.png) ](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/) - ABOUT US - MEET US - BE A CONSULTANT - [BE CREDENTIALED](https://linktr.ee/MaestroSuiteAdvisors) - RESOURCES © 2022 Design Group International. All rights reserved. [Privacy Policy](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/privacy-policy) | [Reprint Policy](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/reprint-policy) | [Terms of Use](https://www.designgroupinternational.com/terms-of-use) - - ```json { "@context": "http:\/\/schema.org\/", "@type": "BlogPosting", "datePublished": "2020-01-15 14:00:00", "headline": "Pas de deux: Creating An Environment Where There is Alignment, Commitment, And Trust", "description": "Lon Swartzentruber describes how alignment and commitment build trust within a board room. This post concludes this series on board governance. ", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/pas-de-deux-creating-an-environment-where-there-is-alignment-commitment-and-trust" }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lon L. Swartzentruber", "url": "https://www.designgroupinternational.com/lon-l-swartzentruber-blog/author/lon-swartzentruber" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Lean Labs", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.lean-labs.com/hs-fs/hubfs/LLv2/images/logo-lean-labs-dark_2x.png?width=453&height=156&name=logo-lean-labs-dark_2x.png", "width": 453, "height": 156 } }, "dateModified": "2022-08-13T3:47:45 AM", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.lean-labs.com/hubfs/LLv2/images/favicon-0.ico", "width": 16, "height": 16 }, "name": "Pas de deux: Creating An Environment Where There is Alignment, Commitment, And Trust" } ```