Several unique but linked situations lead a small business owner to the conclusion of hiring a General Manager. We discussed some of the most common ones in Part II of this series: the business may have outgrown the owner, there may be a significant need for change, there may be an exit strategy at play, or the business may have a rising star on staff worthy of a new challenge or opportunity. Regardless of the reasons, a monumental decision will be made by both the business owner and the future GM. In the conclusion of this three-part series, we will dive into what the necessary attributes of a successful GM are, where to find these right-hand executors, and how the owner’s support is necessary to make the relationship flourish in a way that will yield unprecedented levels of growth for the organization.
While working with clients in need of GMs, I am frequently asked, “How do I find an individual with the skills and abilities necessary to run my company?” The answer to this question starts with having a firm grasp of the traits needed for a candidate to be successful in the position while also understanding the real question being asked: “How do I find someone that I trust enough to run my company?”