You're Both Wrong!

This is the third of a number of posts about on-boarding for executives:

3. Who is at fault for this failure rate?

a. The company or organization thinks: We invested a lot in this executive. He or she will figure out what has to be done.

b. Incoming new executives think: I’ve done this before; I’m smart enough to figure it out. What got me here will get me to the next level. Everyone wants to see some immediate results.

c. WRONG! A pox on both houses.

(This Q&A appeared in CEO Magazine in June, 2009)