Whether they succeed or fail is up to you
Developing good managers for key roles is critically important – especially if you want to grow your print or label business, sell it, and ensure a smooth post-sale transition.
Whether you promote from within or hire outside candidates, each new manager needs clear guidance from you and a certain amount of time to learn how to become full contributors to the success of your organization.
During the transition from the previous manager to a new one, the “taking-charge” stage doesn’t happen overnight. Depending on the background and experience of the person you hire or promote, it may take at least 6-12 months before the new manager feels comfortable enough to make impactful decisions.
Success Factors
In a Harvard Business Review white paper entitled “When a New Manager Takes Charge,” John J. Gabarro discussed a project in which he studied how 14 new managers adapted to their new responsibilities over a period of three years. By the end of the study, ten managers succeed in taking charge while four of the managers failed and had been fired.
Gabarro identified four factors that the successful managers had in common:
- Industry experience
- A clear understanding of what was expected
- Support from superiors
- Good interpersonal relationships
These managers grew into their new positions through a five-phase process that involved periods of intense learning and intense activity. By the end of all five phases, the new manager was comfortable enough to make key decisions and be held accountable for results.
Five-Stage Process
The five stages that Gabarro outlined in his white paper include: arrival, immersion, reshaping, consolidation, and refinement.
- Arrival
The new manager learns about how the organization operates and what corrective actions might be needed. After receiving an initial set of priorities from you, they will start developing working relationships with subordinates and setting initial expectations. - Immersion
The manager develops a deeper understanding of the work culture, workflows, data gathering, and analysis as well as overall industry trends and internal problems that need to be addressed. The manager and employees develop some initial ideas for changes. - Reshaping
New ideas are implemented and measured. Unexpected consequences from the changes are identified. - Consolidation
The best ideas are adopted and issues that arose during the previous phase are resolved. - Refinement
The manager works with his or her team to find additional ways to refine operations or capitalize on new opportunities.
By the end of these five stages, the manager should have established his or her credibility as a leader and have good working relationships with other managers, supervisors, and subordinates.
The amount of time each new manager requires to complete each phase of the taking-charge process depends on the individual, the size of the company, and the complexity of the role.
During the new manager’s five-step take-charge process, you can observe his or her management style, strengths and weaknesses, and give them the necessary training they need to improve.
Call Me for Advice
If you need help finding and developing excellent managers for your label, converting, or specialty graphics business, call me at 561-543-2323 and I will check my extensive database of contacts for possible referrals.
RECOMMENDED READING
Harvard Business Review: When a New Manager Takes Charge, by John J. Gabarro