Deciding who is a good candidate for promotion to a managerial position is not easy. Small business owners or managers of large companies facing this decision might therefore welcome the following recommendations. Entrepreneur.com describes some typical signs of a great employee who will not make a great manager.
1. Needing no help
Employees with excellent results who can handle everything themselves may at first sight look like the best candidates for promotion. Managers, however, cannot do everything alone: they must be able to delegate and ask their staff for help.
2. Solving only their own problems
Potential managers should not look after only themselves. They must be willing to assist colleagues when necessary. An indifferent boss will not have committed subordinates.
3. Blaming others
When something goes wrong, your good candidate blames someone else. This is another warning signal. A manager must be prepared to take responsibility and look for ways to correct mistakes.
4. Not enough enthusiasm
A manager must motivate and inspire subordinates to work together. Your good candidate may have only average enthusiasm; a manager needs more.
5. Unable to see ahead
Your good candidate finishes short-term tasks even before deadlines. However, if (s)he does not see the long-term context of her/his work for the company, (s)he is not a suitable candidate for manager.
6. Not caring about further development
An interest in further learning is very important even for experienced professionals. The transition from expert employee to manager will require a lot of learning and your candidate must be interested.
7. Unwilling to invest more time
An employee who leaves the office exactly after eight hours, or even earlier, can be very productive but that is not enough for a manager. Managers need not work late into the night every day but, if necessary, they must be willing to stay at work longer.
What else do you think is a sign a good employee will not make a good manager?
-kk-