Moving to GM Role?

You have spent long and hard in a functional role, rising to "manager of accounting" or "maintenance manager" or "HR manager" or any number of other management roles.  Now you want to move up a step to General Manager*.

What do you need to do now to prove that you are ready for the move up?  Here is what I look for in a potential General Manager.

Leadership skills

I look for evidence that a candidate has demonstrated most of the following skills in his or her current role:

·         Business acumen - understanding the basic drivers of our business and comfort with the three basic financial reports (P&L statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement) and ratio analysis

·         Thinking strategically

·         Planning, budgeting and cost control

·         Driving for, and getting results through others, including executing strategic and tactical plans

·         Developing resources, especially people and teams - including hiring, firing, retaining and developing direct reports (monthly coaching sessions are one great tool for making this happen)

·         Workplace culture development

·         Delegation and follow-through - and keeping commitments

·         Learning on the fly

·         Influencing, and building trust

·         Conflict resolution

·         Communicating effectively - in writing, on the phone, over email, in person, in front of groups

·         Listening

·         Managing change

·         Making decisions at the appropriate level of risk

·         Priority setting

·         Problem solving - alone, and with others

·         Self-awareness and self-development

Functional knowledge

I look for deep knowledge in at least one functional area.  In addition, I want to see that the candidate has stretched out in order to have an impact on other functions.  For example, a manager of operations should have shown the ability to add value on sales calls.  Functions you should be aware of and be able to contribute ideas to might include:

·         Human Resource management

·         Accounting and finance

·         IT

·         Environmental controls

·         Engineering

·         Logistics

·         Maintenance

·         Manufacturing/operations

·         Purchasing

·         Sales and Marketing

·         Customer service and order fulfillment

·         External relations

If you are aspiring to a GM role, what are you doing to demonstrate these skills and knowledge?  If you are already a GM, what would you add or take away from this list?

*A general manager usually has responsibility for all aspects of one segment of the business:  finance, accounting, sales and marketing, human resources, operations, purchasing and so one.

Source: Moving to GM Role?