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six major competitors, with several others gaining market share. Len’s prede-
cessor retired, but the rumor is that he was forced out.
Len was appointed from within the corporation. He had two other serious
internal challengers for the position, both of whom are experienced and pos-
sess valuable skills and experience. The three have worked in a wide variety
of management positions in the company. They have been with the company
for periods ranging from 15 (Len) to 22 years. The competition for the top
spot was spirited; each of the three felt uniquely qualified. As Len took over
the CEO position, he was not sure how many scars remained, and he was not
sure how the residual politics resulting from his selection would play out.
■ How should Len proceed in selecting and building his
management team?
■ What factors should be most important? Least important?
■ What time frame should he give himself?
■ How can he best learn from the experiences of others?

A CONCEPTUAL MODEL FOR SELECTING
YOUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
One of the clear findings of the Good to Great research conducted by Jim
Collins and his research team relates specifically to selecting who will and will
not be chosen to be on a leadership or executive team. Specifically, Collins
strongly recommends that the team, or as much of the team as possible, be
selected before beginning to determine the organization’s strategy. In this way,
you have your best people working on the strategy and plan that envision the
future of the business or organization. Collins refers to this principle as “first
who, then what.” 1
The approach you use to select and establish your leadership team will be
based on a number of factors:
■ Your organization’s mission and the ultimate vision you hope to achieve.
You need people who have the skills and attitudes to carry out the mis-
sion and your vision.
■ The presence of people who have the ability to help you determine your
organization’s vision and key strategies.
■ The work. Are the managers and leaders knowledgeable about the pres-
ent and future work of the organization?