If ExampleCorp has an objectively fantastic CEO, one who genuinely cares about the company and the well-being of all his employees, and actually understands something about how to make those better...
...and then he retires...
how long would it take for you to be able to tell that his not-terrible-but-kinda-lousy replacement is actually not doing a good job?
The first CEO set things up so that they'd run well; the leaders he put in place will be there for years; the deals he made will be good for a while (and all the new guy has to do is re-up them when he gets the chance).
So for, say, 5-10 years, the new guy get slapped on the back and handed a fat bonus every year for Doing Such A Great Job CEOing...when he's barely doing anything.
But then the situation starts to change. The companies they had deals with start to get bought out, or maybe they just stop existing. The good managers and other leaders the original CEO put in place start retiring or getting hired for bigger and better things.
The new guy stops being able to coast. But obviously his leadership has been great this whole time, and he hasn't changed anything, so how could it possibly be his fault...?
Our society and our industry are chronically unable to measure actual excellence, let alone reward it.
...and then he retires...
how long would it take for you to be able to tell that his not-terrible-but-kinda-lousy replacement is actually not doing a good job?
The first CEO set things up so that they'd run well; the leaders he put in place will be there for years; the deals he made will be good for a while (and all the new guy has to do is re-up them when he gets the chance).
So for, say, 5-10 years, the new guy get slapped on the back and handed a fat bonus every year for Doing Such A Great Job CEOing...when he's barely doing anything.
But then the situation starts to change. The companies they had deals with start to get bought out, or maybe they just stop existing. The good managers and other leaders the original CEO put in place start retiring or getting hired for bigger and better things.
The new guy stops being able to coast. But obviously his leadership has been great this whole time, and he hasn't changed anything, so how could it possibly be his fault...?
Our society and our industry are chronically unable to measure actual excellence, let alone reward it.