You cannot keep people in perpetual fire-fighting mode, but initially, people do have to respond as if their house were on fire. You then have to create a structure and ongoing process to make change a part of the business. The senior executive has to walk the halls, make the calls, be physically and emotionally present. I have found that people love to give PowerPoint presentations, but they hate to actually give you information. It is easy to be seduced by success.
Every leader receives glowing reports from the field.
Discount the good news and pay attention to your doubts. Personal and organizational success are fragile and fleeting. You should take pride in your and your team's accomplishments, but you have to let people know that the best is always ahead of you. Leaving a Legacy ou cannot build value for customers, shareholders, or the community without a vision and values for your organization. You build value by becoming the leader in your field, the company that everybody wants to work for, buy from, or invest in.