It was a cold, dark night back in 2013. Rain lashed against the boardroom window as a crack of thunder followed a bolt of lightning that lit up a whiteboard full of scribbles. My business partner and I were drawing up our new company structure, and we had given control to a new CEO…
Less than two years later, things spiralled out of control as the CEO’s poor decisions almost destroyed everything we’d built up. It was a horrible time that nearly ruined the business and my relationship with my business partner (who was also my best friend).
Luckily, we were able to turn things around, and the business bounced back stronger than ever. However, it was a scary lesson in the importance of making the right hire.
Too many business horror stories start with taking someone on who doesn’t align with the company’s values. As I say to my clients, they also need to ‘GWC’ the seat. Get what’s expected of them, Want to excel in the role and have the Capacity to get things done.
Evaluating potential employees with this in mind it should lessen the chance of your dream business turning into a nightmare.
Have you got any scary workplace stories to share? Let me know in the comments.