We have a mix of middle managers and family members handling different roles; how do we determine who actually belongs on the leadership team before we schedule our Focus Day?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Before we step into the room for Focus Day, we must establish a clear definition of what a leadership team is. A common mistake is building this team based on titles, seniority, or family relationships. Your leadership team must consist only of the individuals who run the major business functions and are capable of setting and executing company wide strategy. This usually means a group of three to seven people.

To determine who should sit at the table, look at the core functions of your business. In almost every organization, these are sales and marketing, operations, and finance, all coordinated by an Integrator. If you have family members or managers who do not directly run one of these critical functions, they do not belong on the leadership team for our sessions.

Every person on this team must also meet a baseline standard of GWC™, meaning they get their role, they want their role, and they have the capacity to do their role. If you are unsure whether a specific manager has the capacity to think strategically, it is better to start with a smaller, highly aligned group of three or four core leaders. We can always expand the team later as we build out your Accountability Chart. Having the wrong people in the room during our foundational sessions will slow down decision making and stall your implementation before it even starts.