Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Top 10 Reasons Newly Promoted Employees Fail

Before they have time to savor the arrival of overdue recognition, newly promoted employees could be in danger of losing their higher-level positions, and even their jobs, particularly if they were promoted to replace others who were laid off during cutbacks, OI Partners, a global career transition and coaching firm, reports. Approximately half of newly promoted employees could lose their recently acquired promotions due to their inability to properly manage, motivate others, and achieve critical goals and objectives. Here are the top 10 reasons, according to OI Partners, why newly promoted employees fail in their jobs, and can wind up hurting their companies' bottom lines: 

1. They do not know how to progress from being individual performers to managing others. They have not acquired the leadership skills they need to succeed.

2. They are unsure of exactly what their bosses expect them to accomplish. They are unclear about the two or three most important goals they need to attain.

3. They do not achieve desired results within an acceptable time frame. They don't fulfill objectives within a deadline that can be as short as three to six months, or don't even realize what the deadline is.

4. They lack adequate skills to manage others. They may be first-time managers, or never had their leadership capabilities assessed.

5. They are unable to motivate others and keep them fully engaged in their jobs. They don't reach out to people and find out what will keep them interested in doing their jobs.

6.  Their ability to relate interpersonally with others is poor. They may exhibit toxic management behaviors such as being too critical, abrasive, unpredictable, self-centered, arrogant, close-minded, or volatile.

7. Their verbal and written communications skills are sub-par. OI points out the ability to communicate well, both verbally and in written communications, is an important foundation of good management.

8. They are not able to build good relationships with direct reports, colleagues, and other departments. They don't enlist the support of subordinates and peers to build commitment to their strategies.

9. They fail to recognize contributions. Managers need to acknowledge the achievements of others and share their successes.

10. They do not determine and use the communications methods preferred by their bosses. They don't find out whether their bosses prefer e-mail, weekly reports, facts and figures, or just informal face-to-face meetings.

Thanks to Inside Training Newsletter