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
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