You know how kids will beg and plead for a new pet? They'll promise to care for it, feed it, walk it ... nothing but empty promises. You give in, agree, and welcome this new animal into your house. Before too long, the kids have disappeared and you're left to literally clean up the crap. Oh, and by this point you've developed an emotional bond with the animal so you can't just get rid of it.
I believe, in someways, this equates to the promise of new leadership in an organization. Companies invest in, and become attached to, someone they believe will truly make a positive impact. These people boast of previous success, say all the right words, generate excitement, and paint a big picture. But, sometimes companies have invested in a grenade thrower, not a leader.
Grenade throwers are those "big picture" people, who lack the glasses necessary to develop true vision. They'll come into an organization, throw around some big ideas (the grenades), get everyone running, and then leave employees with nothing but shrapnel. The company is deconstructed and left to pick up the pieces.
Below are 6 grenade-qualifying questions to ask yourself.