Page 144 - The extraordinary leader

Leaders Must Fit Their Organization • 121

grew at the same rate. After reviewing an extremely large expansion plan and
the personnel required to staff the project, my friend calculated that they
would need to hire every geophysical scientist who graduated from every uni-
versity in the United States and Canada in order to staff the expansion. His
calculation did not faze the planners at all. The only thing that stopped the
project was a change in the price of crude oil.

Excellent Execution

In this organization, there is a substantial need to drive forward and achieve
results, to get things done on time, to stay in budget, and to always make your
numbers. Leaders enjoy challenging results, and they often run on adrena-
line. There is constant energy in the air. People inevitably come to work early
and stay late. This organization attracts or encourages people who aspire to
climb the corporate ladder of success. Goals are always aggressive and chal-
lenge everyone’s abilities. Frequently, these organizations have high rewards
for the best performers and a process to constantly “weed out” the bottom
10 percent.

Advantages. This organization moves fast, and change happens quickly. If
people enjoy challenges and like to stretch themselves, this organization will
fit them well. People who have high career aspirations can be very success-
ful, and typically these organizations offer a great deal of movement and
promotional opportunity. Employees from a company that had a strong
reputation for being an execution organization would also indicate that their
company was a good company to be from. Many employees had a 10-year
plan: they would rise to a high-level position, cash in on their stock options,
and then take a position with another company where the pace was not as
quick, but they would receive a competitive salary and have less risk and less
reward.
Disadvantages. As with any great conquest, there are typically many dead
and wounded. The reality is that if you don’t keep up, you’re out. Individual
success is often a function of company viability and economic conditions. In
a bull market with a great product, this can be extraordinary fun. But in a bear
stock market, with a bad economy, these companies can become extremely
harsh environments. People leave because there is often little loyalty.
A consulting firm was asked to do research for a company whose inter-
national executives were leaving the organization in high numbers. They were