Have I promoted the wrong person?

Dear Aunty B,

I recently promoted a promising young executive to a senior position. But now, as a decision maker, some annoying traits have emerged. He doesn’t seem to be able to distinguish between good and bad ideas. Instead, he focusses on cutting things out and knocking things back.

The only positives he makes to the company is coming up with ways to improve existing processes.

This is frustrating for staff as we are spending quite a bit of slow time trying to come up with new ideas. It has become such an issue that I have now asked to see all new ideas and I feel I am micromanaging him. Have I promoted the wrong bloke?

LD,
South Yarra

Dear LD,

Hmm… If you have to micromanage anyone in a position, you have the wrong person for the job. But before you dump him, may I, at the risk of sounding nutty, raise some research being done around left brain/right brain. Yes, it sounds as wacky as horoscopes until you read the personality profiles and recognise half the office.

In fact there is a story you should read in this month’s Harvard Business Review story called ‘Innovation in Turbulent Times’.

The thinking goes like this. People who are “right brain” are:

• Imaginative
• Whimsical
• Intuitive
• Visual
• Pictures
• Perceptual
• Metaphorical
• Subjective
• Time free
• Ambiguity

Now, look at the “left brainers”:

• Rational
• Logical
• Sequential
• Analytical
• Processing
• Language
• Grammar
• Verbal
• Literal
• Objective
• Accurate
• Time sensitive

So if we pursue this for a bit, it looks like you have hired a left brainer for a right brain task: ie. you have the wrong person in the position. Many companies allow left brain analytical types to approve ideas at various stages of the innovative process – usually around the time it gets to looking at costs. So guess what happens? The idea gets dumped. On the other hand the last thing you want are the free wheeling creatives in charge of the coffers and giving the nod to every loopy idea that arises.

Of course, what has happened in these stressed times is we have put the left brain dominant leaders in charge. Typically they can’t tell the difference between a good and bad innovation. Nor, as the article points out, can they appreciate the skills needed to build and sustain a culture of creativity and constant reinvention.

So what’s the perfect leadership team? It is a duo that unites right brain creative skills with left brain management skills. Of course, this can lead to tense times but hey, creative tension and robust discussion is all part of the innovation process!

So before you move left brain on, pair him with a right brain. Of course, this is only one way to look at your problem. Your other issue may be that you have promoted the bloke beyond his capabilities. In which case you need to demote him or move him sideways into an operations role.

Whatever you decide, take action immediately. This is a time to be looking at the future with new and fresh ideas.

Good luck,
Your Aunty B

To read more Aunty B advice, click here.

What are you waiting for? Email your questions, problems and issues to auntyb@smartcompany.com.au right now!