I saw an article on LinkedIn recently, originally from the NY Times. As you’ll see from the original article, it’s written for the employee. This got me thinking about the flip side of this equation: what if it’s not the best option for the employer to promote from within? In most cases employers usually think it’s easier to promote from within. The years of organisational experience is kept, it’s good for morale, etc, etc, etc. But is it always the best option for the long term health of the company and the employee?
Training
It’s easy for employers to think that no training is required – after all, the newly-promoted incumbent already knows how to do the job because s/he’s seen their boss do it every day. Right…?
Wrong!
Important question to ask
Are you prepared to invest as much time, effort and resources into ensuring your internally promoted person is successful as an external applicant?
If not, then you’re going to end up with a few very frustrated employees. And this doesn’t even go anywhere near potential damage (brand reputation, etc) that can be inadvertently brought about when people don’t know what they’re doing.
Company policy to promote from within
This is all very well and good, noble even. But sometimes it’s not always the best long term option for a company.
If your company does have a policy to promote from within, ask why is this the case?
When you look at your key second-in-command personnel, do all of them have what it takes to step up to the plate? If not, what are the ramifications if you promoted because you had to?
Succession training
If you don’t have a sound succession planning programme in place in your company then promoting from within will come back to bite you.
If you’re not sure whether your succession planning is up to the mark, then give us a call because recruitment is our thing. We can help advise you on whether promoting from within or hiring externally is the wisest decision in your case.
We’ve seen some nightmare situations inside some kiwi businesses where employers were reluctant to invest in their staff because they had the crazy worry of “what if I invest in my staff and they leave…?” The employer decides to do nothing and then they end up with untrained staff who stay!
When to promote and when to not
If you’re considering promoting from within because you think it’s the path of least resistance please give us a call first.
We’ll give you honest, professional advice. We’ll talk you through all the ramifications of your decision so that you’re able to make an informed decision. Not a decision just because it’s the easiest.
Not everyone wants to be promoted.
Some employees are happy with the “all care no responsibility” approach to working because they want to knock off at knock-off time…
They have a life outside of the company which lights them up…
If you’re in doubt, give us a call. It costs nothing to pick up the phone and have a chat with us.
You can read the original of this article here