“What’s the risk?” I asked. “What if you promote Ryan to this new managerial role and it turns out to be the wrong decision?”

Cheryl hesitated. “Not good. It’s never good when you put someone in a role and they don’t work out.”

“And who will I hold accountable if it doesn’t work out?”

Cheryl suddenly realized that, as the manager, she would be in the hotseat, not Ryan. “When you think it through like that,” she started, “I guess it would be me.”

I nodded, “Yes, so how could you make this decision on more than a feeling? Because I WILL hold you accountable.”

“Well, if you are going to hold ME accountable for his success or failure, I am not so sure.”

“In what way can we make certain that this is the right decision?” I insisted.