S1E8 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.