Lunch with a Chairman of the Supervisory Board and a Partner Executive Search - N2Growth.

Some days ago I had the pleasure to have lunch with the former CEO of a company I worked for in the past. Today this former CEO is Chairman of the Supervisory Board for several companies. He told me they had a strategy session about the Covid effect at one of the companies. Is the strategy still sound and relevant for the customers we serve? After a long and in depth debate the conclusion was that some fundamental changes were necessary. I listened carefully as he continued:

One of the big and well known business strategy consultancy firms were hired to help this company to formulate a new strategy and to define a short and long term plan. After a couple of weeks a presentation on the new strategy was presented to the supervisory board. All the numbers looked promising and the Powerpoint slides were overwhelming - with colors – beautiful pictures – and video as well,… I asked the following question:

Is your board fully convinced that the current Leadership has the right experience – skills – motivation – drive – power - to execute upon this new short and long term plan? Is the current Leadership fully on board? Do you want them all to be on board? Are they able and willing to execute this new plan? Who can and who can’t?

We ordered a cup of coffee and had an open and honest conversation on the questions I raised. The so called WHAT, with some external help, is now defined. The HOW and WHO were not given the appropriate attention, crucial in the execution phase. He picked up the phone and spoke to his secretary and asked her to put Leadership evaluation and Succession planning on the agenda for the next Supervisory Board meeting. All other agenda items to be re-scheduled to an other meeting. It was a pleasant and fruitful discussion and after so many weeks we both enjoyed lunch in a restaurant again. Due to the 1.5 meter social distance we were able to talk freely.

Do you want to have lunch?

Kind regards – Paul W.J.Huiskens Senior Partner N2Growth – Executive Search Practice Rotterdam Office – The Netherlands