What do I expect from any leader (and PM) when I say their main responsibility is to "align"? Let's map it out.

Everybody is yapping about "alignment" but why aren't you specific in your communication and map it out like a metric?
There are contributing factors and below is my exact framework on what I consider is necessary to get there.

Some of these factors are harder to influence because they need soft skills to be present (great storytelling). In other cases lots of data and work (strategy)

Look at the 2nd level metrics. Do you think you can be a great leader without:

• Great Storytelling

• Thorough Knowledge about your market?

• Communicating often

• Growing in front of your employees

• Experimenting to learn

Not in my book. Assuming you want to improve on any of those there are simple actions you can take. Start simple.

For example, if you want to improve your storytelling, use simple terminology. (And graphs like this)

LTV, CAC, HR, ATO, ACV make you sound cool, but I guarantee you that you overestimate how many of your new hires understand them. Banish them from your strategy, banish them from your vocabulary.

Another example is to assume misalignment. Assume that we don't talk about the same thing. I've never seen a strategy and vision be overcommunicated. There is always potential misalignment.

If 5 people in a room cannot agree on the exact definition of what a "chair" is (<- try it) then they will have misalignment on your strategy as well.

It's normal. We are humans.

Visualize your expectations. And talk about them.

Over and over and over.