What else does a new general manager face, from a personal perspective?
Professor Biggadike: There is a significant personal challenge in making this transition to general management. The manager is challenged emotionally and wonders whether he/she can actually make the transition successfully given the complexity of the role—especially since the manager is now in unfamiliar territory. One’s self-confidence is challenged, and the new general manager must become comfortable with uncertainty and ambiguity. The temptation is to rush to make decisions as a way of lowering one’s anxiety, and therein, the manager may make major mistakes. These personal challenges are, at the very least, equal to the professional challenges in transitioning to general management. Q: You created Executive Development Program: The Transition to General Management. Why? Professor Biggadike: I wanted to help new general managers make this shift successfully. General managers are confronted with numerous challenges. For example, they must understand both group and individual dynamics.
