Help with saving your rookie managers from

Themselves/delegating

Summary a

BEST PRACTICE You've promoted your star performer into management. Now help him avoid the classic errors that beginners so often make. Saving Your Rookie Managers from Themselves by Carol A. Walker T OM EDELMAN, like a million Six months later, when I was called in reshly minted managers before to coach Tom (I've disguised his name), him, had done a marvelous job I had trouble even picturing the con- as an individual contributor. He was fident insider he once had been. He smart, confident, forward thinking, and looked like a deer caught in the head- resourceful. His clients liked him, as did lights. Tom seemed overwhelmed and his boss and coworkers. Consequently, indeed even used that word several no one in the department was surprised times to describe how he felt. He had when his boss offered him a managerial started to doubt his abilities. His direct position. Tom accepted with some am- reports, once close colleagues, no longer bivalence - he loved working directly seemed to respect or even like him. with clients and was loath to give that What's more, his department had been up-but on balance, he was thrilled. beset by a series of small crises, and Tom APRIL 2002 97