Your business is only as strong as the people inside it. When the right people are doing the right things, everything runs smoother, faster, and with more impact. So, how do you know if you’ve got the right team in place to achieve your vision?
Right People
Getting your people right begins with knowing who the right people are for you. That’s why identifying your core values isn’t optional — it’s essential. Your core values define how your team shows up, makes decisions, and treats each other. It’s the foundation of a culture that you build intentionally and not by accident.
As leaders, we need to use these values when we’re hiring, giving feedback, promoting, or making tough calls about letting someone go. Are they aligned? Are they truly living your values?
If someone doesn’t fit, even if they’re talented, they can slowly erode your culture and momentum. On the flip side, when your team is value-aligned, you build a company that reflects what you stand for — and that’s how you gain traction.
Right Seats
Once you’ve got the right people on your team, the next step is making sure they’re in the right seats. This is where the Accountability Chart comes in — and it’s different from your typical org chart. A traditional org chart shows hierarchy and job titles (a.k.a. egos). It’s helpful for seeing who reports to whom, but it doesn’t show who owns what. The Accountability Chart focuses on function over title. It outlines the key seats that drive the business and assigns one person who is fully accountable for each major area.
Also by Haley Patterson: A Vision for Team Success
Every seat has clear responsibilities, and only one person can own each seat — no shared ownership. That way, when something falls through the cracks or a decision needs to be made, it’s clear who is responsible. No ambiguity. No bottlenecks.
It’s a game-changer for creating clarity, streamlining communication, and helping your team execute more confidently.
Do They GWC?
One of the tools I use with leadership teams is the GWC filter: Get it, Want it, and Capacity to do it. It’s a simple way to check if someone is truly in the right seat.
- Get it — Do they naturally understand the role? Do they “get” what it takes to succeed in the seat they’re in — how it works, what’s expected, and how their work impacts the bigger picture?
- Want it — Do they actually want the job? Not just the title or the paycheck, but the day-to-day work it takes to own the role. This part can’t be taught or talked into; they must want it for themselves.
- Capacity — Do they have what it takes to do the job well? That includes time, energy, skills, emotional bandwidth, and even support at home. Sometimes capacity can be built with the right coaching or resources, unlike “get it” or “want it,” which are harder to fix.
When you’re leading a team, everyone needs to be in a seat that fits. GWC is one of the quickest ways to check if each person is aligned with the role they’re in. It’s not about whether they’re responsible — it’s about whether they’re truly accountable.
As a leader, evaluating your team honestly can be tough, especially when you care about the people you’ve hired. Remember: It’s not personal. It’s about putting the right structure in place to support your vision and set everyone up to succeed.
To get a full picture of whether someone is the Right Person in the Right Seat, I recommend using the People Analyzer. It’s one of the most effective tools for managers and leadership teams. It helps you evaluate two things:
- Are they the Right Person? Do they consistently live your company’s core values?
- Are they in the Right Seat? Do they GWC?
The People Analyzer takes the emotion out of these conversations and provides a clear, shared language for giving feedback, making people decisions, and holding your team to a higher standard. It’s not about judgment — it’s about clarity and alignment. When you use it consistently, it becomes a powerful communication tool for building trust and driving performance.
Also by Haley Patterson: Fueling Growth
And here’s the truth: When you have the right people in the right seats, you’ll feel it. Communication sharpens. Accountability sticks. And suddenly, your business feels like it’s working, because it is.
Want a copy of The People Analyzer, or are you ready to learn more about running on EOS? Reach out: [email protected].
