This blog was penned by James Wisdom, Professional EOS Implementer®.
Here’s a question:
What actually is a business if the people within lack a collective energy aligned with a common goal?
(And no, we’re not talking about new-age “energy” – we’re talking about the work. When energy around the work is aligned, magic happens. When it is not aligned, things blow up.)
In the world of business, having the right team is crucial. But it’s not just about hiring great people – it’s about ensuring they’re in roles where they can truly shine. This concept, known as “Right People, Right Seats” in the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) methodology, is a key to building a high-performing organization.
Let’s explore five ways to achieve this alignment, along with symptoms that might indicate you need to pay attention to each area.
1. Clearly Define Your Core Values
The first step in getting the “right people in the right seats” is ensuring you have the right people to begin with. In EOS, this starts with clearly defining your company’s core values.
How to align your core values:
– Gather your leadership team
– Brainstorm the characteristics of your best employees
– Distill these into 3-7 core values that truly represent your company culture
Symptoms you need to address these core values and align the energy of the team:
– High turnover rates
– Frequent conflicts or misalignments in expectations
– Difficulty in making hiring decisions
– Inconsistent performance across teams
When your core values are clear, you can use them as a filter in your hiring process and as a guideline for evaluating current employees. This helps ensure you have the “right people” part of the equation.
2. Create and Use Accountability Charts
An Accountability Chart is the EOS tool used to clearly define the structure of your organization and the key roles within it.
How to build this chart:
– Define the major functions of your business
– Identify key seats (roles) within each function
– Clearly outline the responsibilities for each seat
– Assign measurable outcomes to each seat
Symptoms you need to address the structure of your organization:
– Confusion about who’s responsible for what
– Tasks falling through the cracks
– Duplicate efforts in some areas
– Difficulty in evaluating performance
With a clear Accountability Chart, you can ensure that every critical function in your business has an owner, helping to address the “right seats” part of the equation.
3. Implement the People Analyzer™
The People Analyzer™ is an EOS tool that helps you objectively evaluate whether someone is the right fit for your organization and their role.
How to tap into the power of the People Analyzer tool:
– List your core values
– Rate each employee on how well they embody each value
– Evaluate their GWC™ (Get it, Want it, Capacity to do it) for their role
– Make decisions based on the results
Symptoms you need to address whether someone is the right fit for your organization:
– Subjective or inconsistent performance reviews
– Difficulty in deciding whether to keep or let go of certain employees
– Tension or low morale in teams
The People Analyzer™ helps you identify both “right person, wrong seat” and “wrong person, right seat” situations, which are two of the most common issues businesses face.
4. Address “Right Person, Wrong Seat” Situations
Sometimes, you have a great employee who aligns perfectly with your core values but isn’t thriving in their current role. This is a classic “right person, wrong seat” scenario.
How to address the issue of an employee not thriving:
– Conduct a frank discussion about their current role and performance
– Review the Accountability Chart to identify other potential roles
– Provide training or mentoring if there’s a skill gap for a role that might be a better fit
Symptoms of “right person, wrong seat”:
– An employee who’s great to work with but consistently underperforms
– Someone who embodies your values but seems stressed or unhappy
– An employee who excels in some aspects of their job but struggles with others
Remember, these employees are valuable—they fit your culture. The goal is to find a role where they can excel.
5. Handle “Wrong Person, Right Seat” Issues
The flip side of the previous issue is when someone is skilled at their job but doesn’t align with your core values. This “wrong person, right seat” situation can be tricky to handle.
How to address the issue of someone not aligned with the core values:
– Clearly communicate your expectations regarding core values
– Provide specific examples of how they’re not meeting these expectations
– Offer a chance to improve with a clear timeline
– If improvement doesn’t happen, be prepared to let them go
Symptoms of “wrong person, right seat”:
– An employee who meets or exceeds their targets but causes conflict
– Someone who’s technically proficient but doesn’t collaborate well
– An employee who achieves results but does so in a way that doesn’t align with your values
This situation is often the hardest to address because the person IS performing well in their role – but there is something you notice as “off” with the performance. Stick to your gut, as keeping someone who doesn’t align with your values can be toxic to your culture over the long run.
Keep in mind that getting the right people in the right seats isn’t a one-time effort – it’s an ongoing process. The EOS methodology encourages regular (usually quarterly) check-ins to evaluate how well your team is aligned.
Use your Accountability Chart, People Analyzer™, and core values as living documents. Revisit them regularly, especially as your business grows and evolves. Be prepared to make tough decisions, but also be open to creating new opportunities for your best people.
And remember, the goal of “Right People, Right Seats” is to create a high-performing team where everyone is working in their area of strength and is aligned with your company’s values. When you achieve this, you’ll see increased productivity, better teamwork, and ultimately, better results for your business.
By following these five ways and staying attuned to the symptoms that indicate misalignment, you’ll be well on your way to building a stronger, more effective organization. It’s not always an easy journey, but the results—a passionate, aligned, and high-performing team—are well worth the effort.
James Wisdom is a Professional EOS Implementer®. Be sure to connect with him on LinkedIn!
