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S1E8 AUDIO Bruce McCarthy on Alignment and Why Sometimes You Have To Let It Break
Ever felt like the goals are fuzzy, the execs are fighting, and your roadmap is just a wish list? You're not alone. In this episode of Corporate Underpants Live, I talk with Bruce McCarthy, co-author of Aligned, about what really derails progress in product, UX, and leadership—and how to build alignment even when it feels impossible.
We cover:
💥 Why tornadoes = political power struggles
⚠️ What to do when execs don’t agree (or even know the goals)
🧠 How “mining for conflict” can surface the truth
🛠️ Using Daci to clarify decisions
🙃 Why facts don’t win arguments (and what to use instead)
⏳ And yes—you can change a system, if you’re patient enough Whether you’re managing up, navigating cross-functional chaos, or trying to make sense of your OKRs—this one’s for you.
Check out my interview with Bruce's co-author Melissa Appel for more Alignment deliciousness: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDav6y647vk&t=11s
🎥 Prefer to watch the video version?
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/69QqD0etKvA
Watch on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7304991585195155456/
💬 Let’s talk about it:
Got stories of your own corporate chaos? Drop a comment or tell me about it on adlininc.com.
View all episodes
By Tamara AdlinEver felt like the goals are fuzzy, the execs are fighting, and your roadmap is just a wish list? You're not alone. In this episode of Corporate Underpants Live, I talk with Bruce McCarthy, co-author of Aligned, about what really derails progress in product, UX, and leadership—and how to build alignment even when it feels impossible.
We cover:
💥 Why tornadoes = political power struggles
⚠️ What to do when execs don’t agree (or even know the goals)
🧠 How “mining for conflict” can surface the truth
🛠️ Using Daci to clarify decisions
🙃 Why facts don’t win arguments (and what to use instead)
⏳ And yes—you can change a system, if you’re patient enough Whether you’re managing up, navigating cross-functional chaos, or trying to make sense of your OKRs—this one’s for you.
Check out my interview with Bruce's co-author Melissa Appel for more Alignment deliciousness: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDav6y647vk&t=11s
🎥 Prefer to watch the video version?
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/69QqD0etKvA
Watch on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7304991585195155456/
💬 Let’s talk about it:
Got stories of your own corporate chaos? Drop a comment or tell me about it on adlininc.com.