Description

In this episode of the Lighthouse Leadership Podcast, Evan Hickok unpacks one of the most overlooked but essential elements of team success: alignment. 

He shows how clarity around what needs to be done, why it matters, and who is responsible can transform a group of talented individuals into a high-performing team. 

Through stories ranging from JFK’s moonshot to Amazon’s Kindle launch, Evan illustrates why leaders must turn insight into shared clarity for their teams.

Key Takeaways

1. Alignment requires three things: clarity on the what, the why, and the who. Skip any one of them and your team risks wasted effort.
2. Write it down. Tools like project charters or even a one-page press-release draft make vision and goals explicit, preventing drift and confusion.
3. Purpose fuels performance. A clear why transforms mundane work into meaningful contribution, just as JFK’s moonshot inspired everyone at NASA.
4. Ownership creates accountability. Whether you call it Amazon’s “single-threaded leader” or Apple’s “directly responsible individual,” every task needs a clear owner.
5. Leaders see what teams can’t. Your role is to synthesize insights from your broader view and communicate them so your team benefits from what only you can see.

TL;DR

Alignment isn’t about talent—it’s about clarity. When teams share the same understanding of what needs to be done, why it matters, and who owns it, they move faster, with less friction, and deliver stronger results.

Resources Mentioned

• JFK’s 1961 Moonshot Speech
• Jiminy Peak Ski Resort’s wind turbine and sustainability vision
• Amazon Kindle launch (Nov 19, 2007 press release)
• Evan’s article on using AI to draft project charters and specs

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If this episode resonated with you, hit subscribe to the Lighthouse Leadership Podcast so you don’t miss future stories and lessons. And if you want weekly insights and tools to help you build high-performing teams, check out the Lighthouse Leadership Newsletter.