Leadership
Does leadership pull the whole scorecard upward?
What it measures
How well the CEO/president sets direction, allocates resources, enforces cadence, develops talent, and prevents drift. The only focus area that can raise the ceiling on all other categories.
Why it matters
Leadership is the multiplier. Weak leadership ratchets every other score downward over time; strong leadership pulls weak categories upward faster than the team can on its own.
What good looks like
- A one-page strategy reviewed monthly
- Priorities are visible, and resources follow them
- Leadership cadence is protected; big meetings happen on time
- Successors exist for every critical role, including the CEO
How it evolves across levels
- L1 Foundation
Strategy is written and communicated.
- L2 Structure
Monthly reviews happen and change decisions.
- L3 Performance
Resource allocation visibly tracks the strategy.
- L4 Excellence
Succession is tested, not just planned.
- L5 Mastery
The operating doctrine outlasts individuals.