“I don’t know, I just give them something to do. If they do it, maybe I will give them something else. They usually don’t step up to the plate, so I am often disappointed.” Randy shook his head.

We had been talking about emerging managers. If we can identify who they might be, then what do we do with them. How do we move them, how do we stretch them, challenge them?

Randy continued, “You would think that if they were really supervisor material, they would just pick things up and get them done. But they don’t.”

My eyes narrowed a bit. “In my experience, people don’t often think about the longer term. They think about today and that’s about it. As their manager, you often have to stretch their interest to the future. If you want them to step up to the plate, you have to ask them what their picture of the future looks like. Getting a person to step up to the plate requires a conversation. It is a conversation that connects today to tomorrow and the week after. It doesn’t start with an expectation on your part. It starts with a conversation.” -TF

Yesterday, I asked for your observations about Emerging Managers. Thanks to all those who posted their insights. I am sending a book to Linda Hedges for her contribution.