The number one cause of a company’s greatness is...

EOS Worldwide founder Gino Wickman has completed 2,000 individual sessions (I'm on 10) and after 14,000 hours across 135 companies, this is his revelation: the single most significant contributor to a company's success is a strong leadership team.

Wickman's assertion , derived from extensive experience and observation, points to a crucial truth in organizational dynamics: it's people. It always was people. It's talent. It always was talent...BUT it begins at the top. As we say at EOS, "as the leadership team goes, so does the rest of the organization."

Put differently: a fish rots from the top down! The leadership team sets the tone and ultimately must lead by example and be the perfect role model to the rest of the organization.

Like I've said at every venture I've been a part of: the only way we lose is if we got in our own way. Put differently: we fail because of us; and often times, we succeed in spite of us...but it doesn't have to be this way.

Here is Gino's seven-point checklist, which offers a comprehensive guide for evaluating and cultivating such a team. How do you score on a scale of 1-10?

1. Rock Stars in Every Seat: Wickman emphasizes having exceptional talent in every leadership position. This isn't about celebrity status but about having individuals who excel in their roles and align with the company's core values. The right people in the right seats ensure a blend of skill and cultural fit, driving the company towards its goals. So how do you determine the right person in the right seat? EOS' Accountability Chart and People Analyzer are the two tools which lead the way. These 'rock stars' must harmonize like a symphony, each playing their unique part in unison with others. It's not just about having the best people, but about having people who bring out the best in each other. In other words, they are more than just high performers but also team players who embody the company's core values and culture.
2. Unified Vision and Plan: A strong leadership team must be completely aligned with the company’s vision and plan. This alignment transcends mere agreement; it requires a deep, shared commitment to every aspect of the vision, eliminating ambiguity and fostering a cohesive approach to business strategy. The leadership team must be fully aligned with the company's vision and plan, as crystallized in another foundational tool, the Vision/Traction Organizer (V/TO). This unity isn't merely about agreement; it’s about forging a shared destiny. It's the kind of alignment that turns visions into realities and aspirations into achievements.
3. Speaking One Language: This point extends beyond literal communication. It's about having a shared understanding and approach to business operations. A unified language means a standardized way of addressing problems, setting goals, and measuring success, creating a harmonious and efficient work environment. Wickman's observation that a team of average people, operating on a unified system, will outperform a group of skilled individuals working independently resonates with your experience or as one of his clients brilliantly said, "separately, we are geniuses; together, we are morons!" It's about creating a lexicon of success, where every term, every concept resonates with clarity and purpose across the team.
4. Open and Honest Communication: The strength of a leadership team is significantly enhanced by its commitment to transparency. This means having the courage and comfort to address difficult issues, provide honest feedback, and share concerns without fear of retribution. Such an environment fosters trust and respect, crucial for any successful team. It’s about creating an atmosphere where hard truths can be aired without fear, where feedback becomes a tool for growth, not reprimand. This openness is the bedrock of trust and the catalyst for continuous improvement.
5. Fanatical About Resolution: A key trait of a strong leadership team is its unwavering focus on resolving issues. This isn’t just about identifying problems but about actively and persistently working towards sustainable solutions, ensuring that issues are not just discussed but resolved. True leadership is demonstrated not just in the identification of issues but in their resolution - the relentless pursuit of solutions, the unwavering commitment to turning challenges into opportunities for growth and learning.
6. Treating Each Other as Equals: In a powerful leadership team, hierarchy doesn’t impede collaboration. Each member is seen as an equal contributor, with a voice that deserves to be heard. This equality fosters a culture of mutual respect and encourages diverse perspectives, enhancing decision-making and innovation. Hierarchies can stifle creativity and mute valuable voices. A strong leadership team operates as a circle, not a pyramid. It's about egalitarianism in ideas and respect, where every perspective is valued, and every voice has the power to inspire change. Spotting the leader in a room full of people is often less about finding the most vocal individual and more about identifying the one who commands respectful attention, often with a measured demeanor. A true leader isn't necessarily the one who speaks first, but rather the one who speaks with intention, whose words carry the weight of thoughtful consideration. They are the individuals who listen intently, digest information thoroughly, and respond with insights that move the conversation forward. They instill a sense of calm and purpose, regardless of their title or position, and their presence is felt in the way they empower others to speak and how they unify diverse opinions towards a common goal. This leader knows the power of silence as much as speech, and their influence is measured not in decibels but in the resonance of their actions and decisions.Or as I put it, the are the ones who "talk the least and/or talks the last."
7. The Secret Sauce – Love: Perhaps the most surprising element of Wickman's checklist is the emphasis on love within the team. This refers to a genuine appreciation and respect for each other's abilities and contributions. When team members enjoy working together, their collaboration is not just a professional obligation but a personally fulfilling experience. Love here transcends the personal – it's a professional admiration and respect, a collective passion for the mission, and a mutual commitment to each other's success. It's about building a team that not only works together but grows, thrives, and celebrates together.

Wickman's checklist serves as a robust framework for evaluating and building a strong leadership team. It emphasizes the importance of not just professional competencies but also interpersonal dynamics and shared values.

His insights offer a roadmap for crafting a leadership team that's not just competent but also harmonious and driven by shared values. Such a team is the cornerstone of any organization's success, underpinning every strategic decision, operational process, and cultural nuance.

If you want to explore how a business operating system like EOS might help you and your leadership team, here's the good news: the tools are free and yours to download or you could hire one of 700+ coaches (we call ourselves implementers) like myself .

The EOS creed is that a successful business cannot operate on multiple operating systems - you must choose one. So choose wisely AND whatever you do, do it properly, whether that means you're self-implementing or partnering with a professional, certified or expert coach.

Here's to your success in 2024 and your road to Mastery and Vision. Traction. Healthy, which begins, middles and ends with a strong leadership team.