Right People, Right Seats Traction Toolbox Part 3 of 8

If you're leading an organization and want to stabilize, grow, or transition successfully, one principle is essential: you must have the right people in the right seats.  This article invites you to take an honest look at your team and consider what changes may be necessary.

     Gino Wickman, author of Traction, outlines the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), which emphasizes two foundational elements:

• Right People: Individuals who align with your organization’s mission, vision, and core values.

• Right Seats: Individuals who are in roles they understand, desire, and can perform.
  

     The “right person” is someone who genuinely embraces your organization’s mission, vision, and values. For example, if kindness is a core value, you should only recruit individuals who consistently demonstrate kindness in their behavior. Your core values serve as the first and most important filter when evaluating potential team members. These values are non-negotiable—every team member must live them, without exception.      To determine if someone is in the right role, EOS uses the GWC framework:

• Get it – They understand the role and its responsibilities.

• Want it – They genuinely want to do the job.

• Capacity – They have the skills, time, and mental bandwidth to perform the job well.
  

     To apply this framework, each role must be clearly defined. The EOS Accountability Chart helps by listing the 3–5 most important responsibilities for each position.  Many organizations struggle because employees lack clarity about what’s expected of them.

     EOS also provides the People Analyzer, a tool for ongoing performance evaluation. Managers meet regularly with each team member to:

• Review how consistently they demonstrate core values.

• Assess their GWC alignment.

• Provide coaching or make necessary adjustments.

    This process ensures that everyone is aligned with the organization’s culture and expectations.

    Traction offers a practical toolbox for leaders and managers. But tools only work when they’re used. The greatest challenge in any organization is working effectively with people—and EOS provides a proven framework to help you do just that.