Episode 259: ALIGN - The Antidote to the Cycle of Chaos in Leadership Teams

Ever left a leadership team meeting feeling like it was so productive—then realized a week later nothing really changed?

In this solo episode, Darrin unpacks why that gap between effort and impact is rarely about commitment—and almost always about clarity. Building on his “Cycle of Chaos” episode, he shares the ALIGN Framework, a practical system for strengthening team dynamics and keeping teams focused on what matters most.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. Why strong teams drift into reactivity when clarity is missing
2. How alignment breaks the Cycle of Chaos—not just “working harder”
3. The ALIGN Framework for healthier team dynamics:
4. A — Agree on the Vision and Goals: Ensure everyone can name the top priorities in the same language
5. L — Language and Communication: Teams don’t just make decisions—they carry the message
6. I — Intentional Role Clarity: Clear ownership prevents duplication, avoidance, and frustration
7. G — Growth Through Cross-Training: Build continuity and empathy without eroding roles
8. N — Navigate with Intention: Protect focus, pause before adding initiatives, and stay anchored to priorities

Reflection questions to take back to your team:

1. If I asked each team member privately, would they name the same top three priorities?
2. Are we clear on what gets communicated, who communicates it, and how it’s framed?
3. Where might I be stepping in that’s keeping someone else from stepping up?
4. Are we moving the goal forward—or just filling the calendar?

Support for leaders and teams

If you’re thinking, “This sounds like my team, but we’re struggling to get there,” Darrin invites you to reach out for coaching, team support, or a leadership team alignment retreat designed to reset vision, roles, and priorities.

Connect with Darrin: darrinpeppard.com | roadtoawesome.net | @darrinmpeppard

Thank you to our Amazing Sponsors

This episode is brought to you by HeyTutor, delivering high-impact, research-based tutoring that supports students while reducing leadership overwhelm. Connect with them at HeyTutor.com

This episode is also sponored by DigiCoach, helping leaders capture real-time instructional data, provide meaningful feedback, and build clarity through strong systems. Go to https://www.digicoach.com/ and tell them you heard about them here on the Leaning into Leadership podcast for special partner pricing.