Reasons for New Executive Failure

Candidates for executive positions frequently experience “organ rejection” – being rejected by companies if they don't fit in with its culture, according to research from Salveson Stetson Group, a full-service retained executive search firm.

“Lack of cultural fit is one of the biggest reasons why newly recruited executives fail,” according to Sally Stetson, co-founder and principal with the 10-year-old executive search firm. “Assessing the suitability of candidates to an organization’s culture can significantly improve the success rate of new hires.”

John Salveson, co-founder and principal with Salveson Stetson Group added, “Candidates may have outstanding technical skills, accomplishments that match the job requirements, and have worked at the ‘right’ companies, but their leadership styles, interpersonal skills, and approaches to making decisions may not mesh with the way the company works. A candidate who was enormously successful in one company can fall flat on his or her face with another due to culture fit issues.”

BOTTOMLINE: To increase the success rate of newly recruited executives:

• Consider using behavioral assessments (such as those offered by Six Disciplines Leadership Centers)
• Consider using candidate 360 feedback surveys (such as those offered by Six Disciplines Leadership Centers)
• Assess your own organization's culture (consider attending a training session called "Building Company-Wide Accountability" - offered by Six Disciplines Leadership Centers)
• Assess your own organization's hiring process (consider attening a training session called "Finding and Keeping The Right People" - offered by Six Disciplines Leadership Centers)