Promotion Without Preparation: Why Top Performers Can Become Weak Managers | Growth by Design

Welcome back to Growth by Design, brought to you by RX2 Solutions, because growth does not happen by accident, it happens by design. In this episode, Ross Rosner and Rob Graham take a hard look at a common leadership mistake, promoting top performers into management roles without the preparation needed to succeed.

The conversation explores why strong individual performance does not automatically translate into effective leadership. Ross Rosner and Rob Graham break down the early warning signs of a mis-promotion, from communication breakdowns to declining team morale. They also discuss the real cost of getting it wrong, both for the individual stepping into the role and for the team expected to follow their lead.

This episode offers practical steps leaders can take to set new managers up for success. Topics include aligning compensation with responsibility, providing the right training and support, and clearly defining expectations before and after the promotion. The goal is to protect performance, preserve morale, and develop leaders who are prepared to guide teams forward.

Episode Timeline

00:00 Introduction to Growth by Design

00:11 The Pitfall of Promotion Without Preparation

01:02 Why Performance Doesn’t Equal Leadership

02:39 Early Warning Signs of a Mis-Promotion

06:25 Real-World Example: A Mis-Promotion Case Study

09:50 Steps to Successfully Promote Without Hurting Morale

14:09 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

If this episode resonated with challenges you’ve seen around promotions and leadership readiness, hit Like so others can learn from the discussion.

If you’ve experienced a promotion that worked, or one that didn’t, leave a Comment, Ross Rosner and Rob Graham welcome the conversation.

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Growth doesn’t happen by accident. It happens by design.