Becoming Word-Class Requires a Trusted Team of

Advisors

Ben Anderson

North American Beachheads

Conference 2009

What Is

• Shift

• Great time to change

• Market change

• “Human system”

Why Does Tiger Need a Coach

Advisors - Types

• Athletes – skill, fitness, diet & psychologists

• Ph.D – supervisors, advisors

• Individuals – “shrinks, coaches & mentors

• Executives – boards and advisors & Coaches

• President – cabinet

• “Pit Crew”

World-Class Wins

• USA – “double edge sword”

• Playing your biggest game

• Culturally different – “hero culture”

• “Broadcast quality”

• Need a different mental model

– Networking

– Asking for help

– Be vulnerable

The Game is Different

The Game

• C-Level Executives must be on the top of their game

• Today’s tough and fast-changing environment

• Must adapt quickly

• Need the best people (team)

• CEO as a coach - must help their top leaders to work through fear and denial and to learn new rules.

Get Support - Advisor Models

• Friend - casual

• Coach – life, business, team

• Mentor (s)

• Advisory Board member (s)

• Board Director

Company X- A Market Leader comes to US

A Vicious Cycle

Unwilling to rationalize theHigh salaries in US- hire less expensive

Hire less expensive, often less skilled

Team made up of “B” and “C” players

Underperform comparedTo their “A” team competition

Home country executiveslose confidence

Less resourceprovided

The company underperforms

CEO suckedIn to try and fix-lack of local knowledge

Clean sweepof US

Formalize a Process

1. Agree challenges facing you and your company – North Star2. Be clear that there is need to hire executive for a function – don’t hire too

early3. What is the role?4. Acid Test = What behaviors and experience must be present to achieve

number 1 5. Target people where they will have the experience and behavior 6. Interview and assess against the challenges facing the company and the

Acid Test 7. Reference and reference some more 8. Make a hiring decision• Hire the best person for the next twelve months, not the next three years

North Star

North Star

• What is your purpose

• Journey

– Personal

– Team

– Business

• Where you are – what is

• Where are you going

Hire to Fit Your Need

Model the Best

• World-Class

• Be brave and set the bar high

• We learn from the best in the business

• Get what you ask for