This article explains why announcing a strategy or project does not create alignment, even with loyal teams. It defines launch alignment in three parts, outcome, accountability, and behaviour, and outlines two practical steps to build it before kickoff: an executive alignment sprint and a people manager alignment loop. It also includes a quick reference checklist leaders can use to reduce churn and rework and create traction early.

Your 2026 Leadership Toolkit What’s inside: • A guided reflection to capture your wins and lessons from 2025 • A simple framework to set meaningful leadership goals • Best practices to support your habits • A quarterly scorecard to track your progress

The A.H.E.A.D. Primer offers a clear, human-centred lens for leading in an AI-driven world. It introduces five practical principles that help leaders anticipate change, harness technology responsibly, stay deeply connected to their people, adapt with confidence, and deliver meaningful impact. This short guide sets the stage for what modern leadership now requires: courage, clarity, and a commitment to bringing the best of both humanity and technology forward, together.