The Incumbent Trap

As you consider what changes you need to make to your executive team – or if you should keep the team whole – ask yourself the following questions:

1.  How much churn was there on the team under the previous leader? Are most people fairly new to their role, or have they been together for more than five years?

2.  If there were internal contenders for the job you now have, how are these individuals behaving toward you and as members of the team?

3.  How is the team responding to your leadership and vision for moving the organization forward? Do they seem eager or just mildly supportive?

4.  Where are the disconnects on the team, from a leadership and thinking perspective? Do you have strong diversity across the team?

5.  What feedback are you hearing about the team’s leadership from the board, employees, customers and other external stakeholders? How consistent is that feedback with what you’ve been observing?

6.  When is the last time the team participated in a formal assessment process such as a 360? How did the team deal with the results?

7.  If you had to replace one person on your team tomorrow, who would that be? If the answer is obvious, it might be a sign that quick action is needed.