GUEST AUTHOR:
Marc Prine, Ph.D.
Management Integrating Psychology (MIP Consulting)
Marc is an industrial/organizational psychologist where he works with organizations to integrate empirically supported methodologies into the management of human capital. The main focus is on optimizing the selection, development, engagement, and retention of employees through use of people analytics, assessment, and psychology.
I was recently reviewing the assessment results for a CEO candidate who would be replacing the founder of a company. My client, chairman of the board and the lead investor in a private equity firm, engaged me to do this analysis. The client’s question – is this candidate the right fit to take over?
The leadership dynamic was interesting. The Founder/CEO would be retaining a seat on the board after the successor took on the chief executive role. Following our normal conversation about the growth strategy of the portfolio company, how this person might manage both the existing leadership team and the board, my client asked an interesting question, “How would he do if COVID happens again?”
The very thought was enough to send chills down my spine. Unfortunately, this is a very important question as challenges of global proportion are not likely to go away. When the next pandemic, or trade war, or… whatever happens – will you have the right team at the helm?
As I spoke to my client, I was able to provide some thoughts based on the extensive assessment we had just done. What wins in a time of chaos, like a pandemic? Successful leaders have these things in common:
In the end, leaders now and in a post-pandemic world need to breathe confidence into their teams, stay focused and show poise in execution. With luck, we won’t have a global pandemic for at least another 102 years. We can be certain, in the meantime that leaders will be challenged to chart-a-course through uncertainty. Let’s talk about how we can assess your team’s readiness and provide the tools for them to be fully equipped, now and for the next time.