What is over-alignment and how can it be combated in an organization?

Over-alignment is a situation in an organization where all goals and objectives are strictly dictated from the top down, leaving little to no room for individual creativity or innovation. This can lead to a lack of motivation and engagement among employees, as they feel their ideas and contributions are not valued.

To combat this, some companies, like Google, implement policies like the '20% time' rule. This allows employees to spend a portion of their work time on projects they are passionate about, fostering innovation and making them feel more involved in the company's success.

This approach not only encourages creativity and innovation, but also brings diverse perspectives into the decision-making process, which can lead to better overall results for the organization.