Jim Collins said it best: “Get the right people in the right seats.” In EOS, that idea is more than inspiring—it’s the foundation of a strong People Component, one of the Six Key Components of the EOS Model. If you want to grow your business without growing pains, your first step is making sure you’ve got the Right People in the Right Seats.
What does that really mean? A Right Person is someone who fits your company’s Core Values. A Right Seat means they GWC—Get it, Want it, and have the Capacity to do—their role on the Accountability Chart. When both are true, you’ve got team alignment. That’s when execution improves, culture strengthens, and your company gains real Traction.
But here’s the thing: loving your team doesn’t mean tolerating team misalignment. If you’re noticing missed deadlines, weak accountability, or the same team members always picking up the slack, chances are someone isn’t in the Right Seat—or maybe they’re not the Right Person.
Signs You Don’t Have the Right People in the Right Seats
Here are some classic indicators that team alignment within your People Component is weak:
- Team members struggle to follow through or need constant supervision
- High-performing individuals carrying too much of the load
- Recurring people “issues” that don’t seem to go away
- Turnover, disengagement, or quiet quitting
- Confusion about who’s accountable for what
Often, it’s not about hiring better people. It’s about ensuring each person fits your culture (Right Person) and GWC’s their role (Right Seat).
Related Reading: Traction Thoughts: GWC at Work
What Does It Mean to GWC a Seat?
GWC is one of the three key filters in the People Analyzer and stands for:
- Gets it – They intuitively understand the role, how the business works, and how their seat fits into the bigger picture. It’s instinctive and doesn’t need much explanation.
- Wants it – They genuinely want the job. They’re motivated, engaged and take ownership of their role without being pushed.
- Capacity to do it – They have the time, skill, talent, and emotional intelligence to do the job well and consistently. This includes handling the complexity and pressure that comes with the seat.
GWC helps you evaluate a person’s fit for their role based not on personality, tenure, or likeability but on their alignment with the seat’s demands.
And here’s the key: they must be a “Yes” in all three—Gets it, Wants it, and Capacity to do it—to truly be in the Right Seat. If they’re a “No” in any one area, that’s a signal to explore whether coaching, a new seat, or a tough people decision is required.
Related Reading: The Difference Between “Capacity” and “Get It”
Team Alignment Requires Honest Evaluation
Loving your people means putting them in a position where they can thrive. That starts with being willing to ask the hard questions: Are they the Right Person? Do they GWC their seat?
When someone is in the Right Seat:
- They take full ownership of their role
- Leaders delegate with confidence
- Meetings are productive, not painful
- Projects move forward smoothly
- Morale and team alignment strengthens
When someone doesn’t GWC their seat, it creates friction for them and everyone else. That’s why EOS gives leaders a clear path to team alignment instead of tolerating issues.
How to Use GWC to Drive Team Alignment
Step 1: Build Your Accountability Chart
Use the Accountability Chart to define the structure of your business based on functions—not people. For each seat, clarify five key roles and responsibilities.
Download the Free Accountability Chart Template.
Step 2: Evaluate with the People Analyzer
Next, use the People Analyzer to assess every team member. Start with Core Values, then evaluate GWC with simple Yes or No answers. This provides clarity and helps you spot patterns.
Download the Free People Analyzer Template.
Step 3: Have the Conversation
Sit down with the individual and discuss your findings together. Ask them to self-assess. If they’re the Right Person but not in the Right Seat, coach them up or explore a different seat that may be a better fit.
Step 4: Make the Tough Call
If they’re not the Right Person or there’s no Right Seat for them, you must make the tough people decision. EOS is about doing what’s best for the business and every individual long term.
While GWC helps ensure your people are in the Right Seats, full team alignment also comes from getting everyone to understand your Vision/Traction Organizer (V/TO). When every team member understands and is committed to your company’s vision and is held accountable for executing it, you create unity, focus, and real traction. That’s why the EOS Process doesn’t stop at people; it connects vision and execution across the entire organization.
Ready to Evaluate Your Team Alignment with GWC?
Download the free GWC Tool. Combined with the People Analyzer, it will give you a clear, objective way to strengthen your People Component and achieve team alignment.
These tools are simple, but they’re not always easy. They’ll push your team to face the truth and make decisions that build a healthier, more accountable, and more cohesive organization.
Final Thought: Don’t Settle
Getting the Right People in the Right Seats isn’t a one-time activity; it’s an ongoing leadership discipline. In EOS, we don’t settle for “almost right” when it comes to our team. We use simple tools, ask tough questions, and make courageous people decisions to build organizations that are not only productive but fulfilling.
Have the conversations. Build the team alignment your business needs, and your people deserve.
If you’d like more help using these tools, find a Professional EOS Implementer who can help you strengthen your People Component and get more of what you want from your business.
