What is the single most important thing a CEO can do to maximize his or her company's performance?

The answer is to creatively, aggressively, and systematically build the capabilities of the company's middle management team: the vice presidents, directors, and managers.

Middle management excellence, resting on managing at the right level, coordinated profitability management, and managing as teaching, can be systematically developed and constantly improved. It is the ultimate point of leverage for all corporate performance.