Why Managers Fail

Have you ever wondered why some managers never get promoted?  They were hired because of their high potential for advancement, began an impressive track record and then got to a certain level and stalled.  The train seemed to derail.

The Center for Creative Leadership has been studying this problem for years.  I first came across this study in 1982.  Over the past 27 years little has changed.  Here are the top five reasons that managers derail. 

First, they have problems with interpersonal relationships.  They simply cannot or will not work well with others. Common reasons include abrasiveness, rude behavior, insensitivity, arrogance, volatile emotions and dictatorial behavior. 

Second is their inability to build and lead a team.  They seem to hire people who have the technical skills, but not the interpersonal skills.  In today’s world if you can’t lead a team your value is diminished.

Third, they fail to meet business objectives.  They may over-estimate their abilities, be overwhelmed by the complexity of the task, be self-promoting or have just gone beyond their level of competence.  This reason should not surprise anyone.

Fourth, they are unable to change or adapt.  Thousands of years ago, Heraclitus stated that “The only permanence is change” and it is still true today.

Fifth, they lack a broad functional orientation.  Simply put, they can’t see the big picture.  They work in their own world and fail to see how other departments or functional areas support the organization.

Next time we will address how managers facing these issues can overcome the possibility of derailment.