Loud Thinking

Assess “Network Fit” When Hiring New Leaders

Research suggests that outside hires at the C-suite level take twice as long to ramp up — and fail at a much higher rate — than leaders promoted from within. If your organization is looking to hire a C-suite leader, change your hiring criteria. Focus not just on skills or background but on network fit — how well the potential hire will fit with the way his or her new colleagues work. Ask your in-house recruiters to take responsibility for network fit. In the rush to fill open positions, in-house recruiting departments may not incorporate their knowledge of how existing teams work in making final selection decisions. But unlike outside recruiting firms, your in-house team knows their working environment well enough to pick the best executive to lead the business.

Adapted by HBR from “For Senior Leaders, Fit Matters More than Skill” by Jean Martin.