Evan Hickok

Evan Hickok has over twenty years of experience designing and managing high-complexity systems in high-consequence environments. As a Systems Engineer and Program Manager, he has guided projects through every phase of the product life cycle—from concept, detailed design, transition to production, production, installation & activation, and operational support. A dedicated researcher of team dynamics, Evan focuses on building high-performing teams capable of delivering exceptional results in the most challenging environments. He shares his insights and frameworks in the Lighthouse Leadership newsletter, published almost weekly at evanhickok.com.

Are you ready to become a manager?

A person in chaos on the left hand side, but operating with clarity on the right hand side.

Thinking about stepping into management? Discover the essential mindset shift from task-oriented doing to empowering others through delegation, feedback, and emotional intelligence. Learn how to unlock your leadership potential.

A letter to myself, 10 years ago

A military-style GUI showing an identified land mass with an overlay showing temperature, pressure, azimuth, elevation, position, and battery level. The Pressure is low.

Introduction: The Leadership Gap I Didn’t See If I could go back to 2014, I would tell myself two things: I was traveling to a different location every week for 7 months where I was struggling to turn around a failing program. I didn’t recognize how much I was missing about the fundamentals of a … Read more

Why Organizational Structure, Not Talent, Defines Business Succes

A visual representation of Triple-Loop Learning using three concentric circles. The innermost circle represents First-Loop Learning (Tactical Execution), the middle circle represents Second-Loop Learning (Optimizing the System), and the outermost circle represents Third-Loop Learning (Strategic Transformation). Each layer expands upon the previous one, illustrating the progression from fixing errors to systemic improvement and long-term adaptability.

Struggling with inefficiency? Success isn’t about talent alone—it’s about structure. Learn how better organizational design and Triple-Loop Learning can transform your business.

Leadership vs Management – and Dominos Pizza

Dominos Pizza reinvented their business in public in 2009/2010. Click the image for the full page on the Internet Archive

Leadership defines the vision, while management ensures execution. Learn how the right balance drives success—featuring Domino’s bold transformation.

Transparent Process Case Study: A Training Delivery System

The Product Manager training coverage of 7 engineering directorates ranged from 37% to 89%. But no benchmark of "good" was established.

A structured training process ensures alignment and transparency. Learn how a clear system improved training efficiency and business performance.

Delegate what is stuck in your head with AI Project Management

Futuristic AI-powered project management concept featuring a glowing digital brain with interconnected nodes hovering above a workspace. A holographic project board, laptop, floating task lists, and a progress chart illuminate the high-tech office environment in neon blue and purple hues.

Delegate complex tasks effortlessly with AI-powered project management. Transform unstructured thoughts into actionable plans with ChatGPT and Otter.AI.

The Science Behind Setting and Achieving Goals

Headline: 90% of People Quite after 3 Months of Hitting the Gym

Unlock the science of setting and achieving goals. Explore how brain chemistry drives motivation and success with insights from Setting Goals Theory.

How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge: Prying Work from a Poor Delegator

Two business people in suits passing a baton between their hands

Learn how to lead when you’re not in charge by helping a poor delegator. Use questions & frameworks to build trust, gain clarity, and take ownership.

How I think about transparent process

A whiteboard set up for a process workshop for a pizza shop is divided into three verticle sections. The sections are labeled: Routine, Complex, Creative. The Routine Processes include Recipes, the Complex including Hiring and the Creative include New Menu Iteams.

Learn how transparent processes can transform your business with clarity, efficiency, and growth. Discover a simple framework for routine, complex, and creative tasks.

Team Building through Connection

A quote from Ray Bradbury's book Fahrenheit 451: “We cannot tell the precise moment when friendship is formed. As in filling a vessel drop by drop, there is at last a drop which makes it run over; so in a series of kindnesses there is at last one which makes the heart run over.”

Transform team dynamics with team building through connection. Bridge the gap between fitting in and belonging to create a cohesive, high-performing team.