Consistent Trouble Spots

The 1990s derailment study was far more extensive than the one done for the original Benchmarks, involving interviews with sixty-two executives from fifteen Fortune 500 companies in the United States and twenty-four large organizations in six European countries. A comparison of the studies revealed four trouble spots for executives that have remained consistent over the past twenty years:

  • Problems with interpersonal relationships
  • Failure to meet business objectives
  • Inability to build and lead a team
  • Inability to change or adapt during a transition

One new fatal flaw for executives emerged in the 1990s research: a functional orientation that is too narrow. Today's leaders must be able to manage cross-functional teams ...

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