April 2002

A FOCUS COMMENT:

Use The Talent You Have!

The title of the article read, “What Happens When Your Valued Employee Makes a Bad Manager?” The Wall Street Journal Marketplace piece went on to highlight three executives faced with this challenging situation. It bemoaned the fact that a manager who is highly valued for professional expertise, knowledge and productivity turns out to be a bad manager, “…abrasive and overbearing to his direct reports.” “…berated and humiliated his staff.” Only William Johnson, CEO of H.J. Heinz, took any personal responsibility when he said, “The best way to deal with this problem is to avoid it in the first place.”

It’s always too bad when a person is placed in a position that is wrong for them. Of course, there is generally plenty of blame to go around, as they didn’t get there by themselves, but it also shows a sad lack of self-perception and real knowledge of who and what they are and where they excel.

In our work we have found, that “Transitional Coaching” can be of significant benefit to potential as well as newly promoted managers. It is most frequently, a lack of preparation that causes new managers to fail. Not skill. If not supported, your employee may find herself/himself in a very uncomfortable situation. They may even know they are not meeting your expectations, but they may also be reluctant to step out and ask for help. That’s a loss for both the person and the company.

Our Career Consultants can work with the individual and the company to create career development profiles that keep bad matches from happening. A Professional Coach can guide someone to success who is not performing up to their potential, but who actually is in the right job…with the right company.

Companies that provide the opportunity for career and transitional consulting to their key employees don’t face these kinds of problems. The partnership that evolves when employee and employer work together to find win/win placements tends to also ensure that when mistakes are made, the communication between them is strong and trusting and they can make appropriate changes without either feeling betrayed or at fault.

There is no such thing as a good company or a bad company - a good boss or a bad boss - a good employee or a bad employee - a good job or a bad job . . . . only good or bad matches.

To paraphrase a sports cliché: “If you have a team that can run with the ball, run the ball. And if you have a great quarterback, build the team around him. You have to use the talent you have.”

We might add, “It never hurts to have a great coach, either!”

Personal Service.  Consistently Delivered.  Worldwide.    
When You Need Us. . . We’ll Be Here. 

                                  Phone:  952.525.1475            
            
Email:  E-Talent@oipartners.net