Quote from "Good to Great"

"The executives who ignited the transformations from good to great did not first figure out where to drive the bus and then get people to take it there. No, they first got the right people on the bus (and the wrong people off the bus) and then figured out where to drive it." from Good to Great, by Jim Collins

This is a fascinating point that really indicates the need to have a team before you set strategy and direction. The research that led to the book Good to Great enabled an examination of the key elements of companies that went from average performance to great (and sustained) performance. What may have made this work -- getting the right people in place first -- is that the right people probably contributed to a strategy that was collectively discovered.

Another great point from this book on people is that the key to sustained success is an outstanding succesorship plan.