Be aware of companies that look to appoint “yes I will CEO’s/ GM’s” to deliver agreed strategy.
Why ? I have found that directors will tend to appoint such highly agreeable senior managers when directors don’t wish to have their views/ ideas challenged. And it is often these organisations that have the most toxic cultures of all – pretty much dictatorships.
Directors who avoid appointing strong-minded senior managers, often show themselves to be people who think that they have all the right/ best ideas within themselves. With this mindset, such directors tend to issue directives to the senior manager, rather than invite the input of the senior manager into their governance decision-making activities.
My best advice, based on first-hand experience, is avoid taking-up a senior management role in an organisation where directors demonstrate the above traits. It is better (more rewarding) to work with a Board that has an “inclusive” mind-set…one which values and invites the input of their senior manager.
And a word of caution to directors who possess a mindset of the sort described above; you will be unlikely to retain highly competent senior managers if you continue to dictate your decisions to them without involving them in your decision-making processes. And should this eventuate, you will then need to consider who is going to be your spokesperson to your shareholders ?