Why Promoting Your Best Doer Backfires
50th Episode Celebration: Turning Managers Into Leaders With Paul Teasdale
The gap between managing today and leading next quarter, and why good operators stall when nobody shows them the difference. With Paul Teasdale.
Why do good managers fail when they get promoted?
Also on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
What this episode covers
Many good managers fail when promoted because leadership demands a different set of skills focused on long-term vision rather than immediate task completion. In this episode, Jimmy Burroughes and Paul Teasdale explore the gap between management and leadership, highlighting common challenges organisations face in developing leadership capabilities. They discuss how practical tools, mentorship, and peer learning environments can support managers in becoming effective leaders. The episode also addresses the risks of burnout and the importance of measuring the impact of leadership training. This conversation provides actionable insights for those responsible for growing leadership talent within their teams.
Who this is for: General managers and senior operators who oversee teams and want to understand why some managers struggle after promotion and how to improve leadership capability.
Key takeaways
- Good managers often struggle when promoted because leadership requires forward thinking beyond task management.
- Organisations frequently underinvest in leadership development, causing capability gaps and stalled progress.
- Practical frameworks and mentorship are essential for developing leadership skills effectively.
- Peer learning communities and psychological safety help leaders overcome challenges and avoid burnout.
- Regularly reviewing leadership development outcomes ensures training investments translate into real change and results.
In this episode, Jimmy Burroughes and Paul Teasdale discuss the significant differences between managers and leaders. They explain that being a manager is about doing tasks right now while being a leader is about looking ahead and supporting long-term goals. They discuss how people can learn to be better leaders and warn about what can happen if companies don’t help their leaders learn and grow. They suggest creating a supportive place where people can learn to be better leaders, with resources that support each person on their path. This discussion offers practical strategies for enhancing leadership capabilities and inspiring positive transformations in professional and personal spheres.
Don't forget to use the link to sign up for our High Impact Leadership Training coming very soon.
Connect with Paul Teasdale:
Web: https://paulteasdale.co.uk/
Episode Highlights
(0:00) Intro
(3:25) The struggle with managers and the distinction between management and leadership
(7:45) Challenges in leadership development within organizations
(11:10) The U-shaped development curve and its impact on leadership, contextualizing tools and frameworks for effective application
(16:44) Importance of practical frameworks and mentorship in leadership development
(19:30) The power of peer learning communities and psychological safety in overcoming leadership challenges
(22:41) Understanding the cognitive energy that leads to potential burnout
(26:42) Overcoming obstacles to leadership development, funding, and prioritization dilemma
(29:55) Underinvestment in leadership training, solutions, and future directions
(35:27) Outro
Follow and Subscribe to Jimmy Burroughes
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmyburroughes/
Website: https://www.jimmyburroughes.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmybleadership/
----------
Grab a copy of Jimmy's books at: https://jblhighperformance.com/books
Questions managers ask about this episode
Why do good managers fail when they get promoted?
Good managers often fail after promotion because leadership requires looking ahead and supporting long-term goals, not just managing tasks effectively in the moment. Without developing these forward-thinking skills, managers struggle to meet the demands of leadership roles.
How can organisations improve leadership capability?
Organisations can improve leadership capability by investing in practical frameworks, providing mentorship, and creating peer learning communities that offer psychological safety and support continuous growth.
What role does peer learning play in leadership development?
Peer learning communities help leaders share experiences, learn from each other, and build psychological safety, which is crucial for overcoming challenges and reducing the risk of burnout in leadership roles.
How can I measure if leadership training is effective?
To measure leadership training effectiveness, revisit the managers' bosses after training to ask what has changed, tracking improvements in decision-making and leadership behaviours against specific outcomes.