Soar to Success November 2021

O n a recent engagement with a very small organization, I came across a phenomenon that unfortunately, is all too common. A major top-level shift was taking place and a search was on for a new senior executive. The very well-intentioned search committee was made up entirely of board members, with no other constituents represented. As the process went on, the search committee, and the larger board seemed to have forgotten about the employees who were continuing to run the organization. Contact was minimal, and at no time did anyone ask the employees what qualities and qualifications they thought would be important to seek in a new senior executive. Make Your Employees Your Strategic Partners By Megan Patton The board members thought they knew better than the employees even though none of them had ever spent time inside the organization. As time went on with no results, the employees became more and more discouraged. This normally very upbeat, positive culture was slowly withering and becoming negative. As I spent time with the employees, it was very obvious to me that all they really needed and wanted was for someone to listen to them. They felt undervalued and under appreciated due to the fact that at no time did the search committee ask them for input on the new hire. As a result, the remaining employees were becoming disengaged and have moved from