Tag Archive for: team assessment

The Weak Link in Predicting Private Equity Investment Success

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Talent decision analytics pay off across every business metric!

weaklinkbusinessclimberNo industry is more disciplined in analyzing data relevant to investments than are Private Equity firms. Their financial, operational and market analyses are comprehensive and rigorous to ensure the best investment decisions for their investors and portfolio companies.

On the other hand, evaluation of leadership, organization and culture is subjective at best. While many case studies demonstrate that the health of an organization’s culture and quality of leadership are top predictors of success, measuring those critical factors has been more an art than a science. In fact, recent McKinsey research found that investors have attributed 65% of portfolio company failures to people and organizational issues. 1 Having a sound succession plan and the right team in place for ongoing success has been a top priority for global organizations for many years. This advice is equally vital for PE firms. Yet, measuring leadership fit and cultural health has been the weak link in predicting success for Private Equity investments!
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The Weak Link in Predicting Private Equity Investment Success

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Talent decision analytics pay off across every business metric!

weaklinkbusinessclimberNo industry is more disciplined in analyzing data relevant to investments than are Private Equity firms. Their financial, operational and market analyses are comprehensive and rigorous to ensure the best investment decisions for their investors and portfolio companies.

On the other hand, evaluation of leadership, organization and culture is subjective at best. While many case studies demonstrate that the health of an organization’s culture and quality of leadership are top predictors of success, measuring those critical factors has been more an art than a science. Korn Ferry’s July, 2016 Briefings includes the article, Why Boards Make Bad Decisions, which emphasizes the importance of having a sound succession plan and the right team in place for ongoing success. This advice is equally vital for PE firms. Yet, measuring leadership fit and cultural health has been the weak link in predicting success for Private Equity investments!
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The Weak Link in Predicting Business Success

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Talent decision analytics pay off across every business metric!

weaklinkbusinessclimberBy Sheryl Dawson, CEO Dawson Consulting Group

No function is more disciplined in analyzing data relevant to business success than business development. Their financial, operational and market analyses are comprehensive and rigorous to ensure the best investment decisions for their investors. On the other hand, evaluation of leadership, organization and culture is subjective at best.

While many case studies demonstrate that the health of an organization’s culture and quality of leadership are top predictors of success, measuring those critical factors has been more an art than a science. Korn Ferry’s July, 2016 Briefings includes the article, Why Boards Make Bad Decisions, which emphasizes the importance of having a sound succession plan and the right team in place for ongoing success. Yet, measuring leadership fit and cultural health has been the weak link in predicting success for businesses across industries!
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LeBron James, Team Building and Assessments

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The Business Lesson LeBron James Learned (hopefully)

The 2015 NBA Finals went to six games. The day before the sixth game, when asked if Cleveland would win the game and tie up the series avoiding elimination, LeBron James replied “No. Cleveland will win because I am the best basketball player in the game.”

This was a bold statement, but as my father used to say , “It ain’t bragging if it’s true” and I believe LeBron was not bragging. In game six of the 2015 NBA finals, James again poured out with 32 points, 18 rebounds, and nine assists, but the Golden State Warriors hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy after finishing and the Spurs clinched the 2015 Finals in Cleveland.

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Paradox Theory and Team Dynamics

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paradox theory and team management

In today’s specialized work environment, talent is not enough. Talented people must effectively work together in order for the organization to succeed. HR budgets are tight and finding the right combination of talented people who can work together day in and day out to achieve positive results is difficult. As any good sports team knows, getting the right talent on the team in the right positions working together is imperative.

Harrison Assessments Paradox Theory reveals team dynamics in a way that has never before been possible, enabling individual team members to easily identify how their own behaviors contribute or obstruct the team objectives.

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Amazing Job Race

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Amazing Race

Amazing Job Race

Too bad you don’t have sixteen weeks of challenges, obstacle courses and road blocks to find the winning Amazing Job Team!

I will admit it. My guilty pleasure is watching “The Amazing Race.” It’s a long running TV show that starts typically with 12 two-person teams and follows them as they race around the world, trying to be the first to complete a set of challenges and get to the finish line winning 1 million dollars.

I happily watch the trials and tribulations of the teams as they jump through hoops, complete challenging projects under pressure and compete with each other to win position. I get an inside seat to the behaviors of people under stress attempting to complete tasks. It is interesting to me to watch how well someone completes a task that they enjoy doing… (the surfer lady who excels on all the water, heights and physical challenges…etc)

The Amazing Race is termed a “reality show.” The show is filled with leadership, teamwork, culture and communication lessons. As I watch and learn I wish that businesses in “reality” could put their possible team candidates through a race like this to figure out which candidates are the best.

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