How to Read a Leadership Team in Two Weeks

An honest read of an existing leadership team takes two weeks, not two quarters. The signals are visible if you know where to look.

What you watch for

Who owns outcomes versus who reports on them
Who answers questions directly versus who deflects
Who takes accountability when something is wrong
Who arrives prepared and who improvises

What the team tells you about the previous CEO

The behaviours of the leadership team reveal what was tolerated. Pattern of late delivery, vague accountability, and political answers all point to a leadership culture that needs to be reset, not adjusted.

What to do with the read

Decisions on the existing team should be made inside ninety days. Beyond that, you become the reason for the team you inherited.

https://niklaslindahl.com/essays/how-to-read-a-leadership-team-in-two-weeks