So what's a CEO to do? Start out by rearranging the financial motivation of division heads. Part of their compensation should be related directly to their division or business unit, and a large part should be tied into the organization's total performance and profitability. Now there is true motivation for internal partnering and alliance building.
Dismantling the "Good Old Boys" network is a bit trickier. While you, the CEO, don't want to micromanage, you still have to enforce policies to assure the best candidate is promoted to a leadership position. Otherwise, there will be constant turnover of executives. If employees who are perfectly qualified to climb the corporate ladder only see the boss's buddies getting the promotions, they will not stay long.
Policies to thwart the "Good Old Boys" include those that help justify promotions. Your organization has desirable qualities that are preferred in supervisors, middle managers and other division heads. But, do you have measurement vehicles to help the truly qualified rise above the rest? These personnel measurement vehicles urge the "Good Old Boys" to select the correct person for the promotion based not on comfort level, but performance.
Copyright © 2008-2012 Ed Rigsbee.
By Ed Rigsbee, CSP, CAE
Ed Rigsbee, CSP, CAE, has been fumbling, bumbling and stumbling his way through the organizational mazes of for-profits and non-profits for more than 40 years. For the last two decades, Rigsbee has been an observer, researcher and teacher—helping organizations of all sizes to build successful internal and external collaborative relationships. He travels internationally to deliver keynote presentations and workshops on successful alliance relationships. In addition to serving as the president of Rigsbee Research, Rigsbee also serves as the executive director of a public non-profit 501(c)(3) charity. He has authored three books and more than 2,000 articles helping organizations to take full advantage of their potential. Contact Rigsbee when you need a speaker or consultant on partnering at www.rigsbee.com.
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