---
id: "quote-receptionist-alignment"
type: "quote"
source_timestamps: ["§ 1. They create strategic clarity to align the organization."]
tags: ["strategic-alignment", "communication"]
related: ["concept-strategic-drumbeat", "action-one-page-plan"]
speaker: "Analytics company CEO"
sources: ["tail2"]
sourceVaultSlug: "hbr-seg-tail2"
originDay: 2
articleStem: "hbr-tail-121-best-pe-backed-ceos"
sourceUrl: "https://hbr.org/2026/04/what-the-best-private-equity-backed-ceos-do-differently"
sourceTitle: "What the Best Private Equity-Backed CEOs Do Differently"
---
# Alignment from Leadership to Receptionist

> "Everybody from the leadership team to the receptionist understands where they fit within the plan, how they're accountable to it, and how they're helping to build a sustainable company."
> — an **analytics-company CEO**

Illustrates the depth of strategic penetration required for outperformance — the target state of [[concept-strategic-drumbeat]] and the payoff of [[action-one-page-plan]]. The speaker is anonymized in the source (a portfolio-company CEO), so there is no separate person entity.