Bob Dixon invites Mike Ellicott to the show and dives into the importance of having the right people in the right seats within an organization. They explore the challenges of recognizing and addressing misalignments in team roles, even when dealing with high performers who may not fit the company culture.

Key Takeaways:

1. Visionary leaders often excel at thinking outside the box within set parameters but may face challenges when operating in a space without defined boundaries.
2. A successful team is built not just on individual talent but on ensuring that each person is in a role that aligns with their strengths and the company’s core values.
3. Leaders must be willing to ask tough questions to uncover whether team members are truly the right fit for their roles, based on both cultural alignment and job performance.
4. Defining and consistently communicating core values is crucial to building a strong, cohesive culture. Without this clarity, employees may create their own, potentially conflicting, subcultures.
5. The difficulty of dealing with high performers who don’t align with company values, offering strategies for leaders to navigate these complex situations.

Resources Mentioned:

• Good to Great by Jim Collins: A recommended read for understanding the importance of getting the right people in the right seats.
• The Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS): A framework that helps leaders bring clarity and alignment to their organization’s vision and operations.

Quotes:

“Visionaries can be creative within the box, but true visionaries paint on an endless canvas.” – Bob Dixon

“You want the break room culture to be the same as the customer service culture.” -Mike Ellicott

“If you haven’t thought deliberately about your core values, you won’t have the culture you want.” -Mike Ellicott

About Mike Ellicott:

Mike retired as an Engineer officer after 27 years in service, culminating at the Commander of the Memphis District of the US Army Corps of Engineers.  Mike has tours in Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq, and has 4 Masters degrees. Mike is the founder and president of Castle 6 Group and a certified EOS implementor. He is on a mission to help 250 companies (100 of them veteran owned) grow and bring in $500M in new revenue by 2031.

Contact Mike: https://www.eosworldwide.com/mike-ellicott