Have you been in this situation? One of your top managers left suddenly and youre under the gun to replace her quickly. So you promoted her assistant. That was a disaster. You now need to replace him but want to do it right this time and avoid another costly mistake.

This is an example of the hundreds of 'management staffing gone wrong' disasters that Ive witnessed in working with many companies. In todays hurry-up and get-it-done work world, many people are unwisely promoted to management positions. Basically, their abilities do not match or are insufficient for the new job role. Before you place someone in a management or supervisory position, take heed of these three key staffing principles:

1. Not all competent employees make good supervisors or managers. Some might be more valuable by continuing in their role as the top salesperson, or the great programmer or the most sensitive counselor.

2. Interviews must be focused with targeted questions. For a management position, develop specific behavioral based questions to decide if the person has good people skills? (Managing is working with people to get results.); Communicates well? (Managing is dealing with people up, down and sideways in an organization.); Knows how to handle conflict? (Managing is confronting and solving people problems.)

3. Finally, in selecting the best candidate, determine the best fit. Can this person do the job? Thats the technical fit the basic skills to do the job. Does the person have the desire to do the job? Thats the motivation fit the commitment to perform well. Does the person fit into the team? Thats the culture fit an important barometer for success.

Marcia Zidle

Marcia Zidle, M.S. N.C.C., the ?people smarts? coach, works with business, government and community leaders to quickly solve their people management headaches so they can concentrate on their #1 job ? to grow and increase profits. Her services include:

• What Really Works Handbooks ? resources for managers and supervisors on the front line
• Power-by-the-Hour Programs ? fast, convenient, real life, affordable courses for leadership and staff development
• Your Strategic Partner ? support to leaders who are in positions of high expectations, high visibility and high payoff.

Marcia is founder of Leadership Hooks, a business coaching company, which helps executive teams, operations managers, business owners and agency directors to move their organizations from seat-of-the-pants to feet-on-the-ground leadership.

She brings over 20 years experience from a wide variety of workplace settings, countries, and industries including: health care, financial services, professional practices, automotive and light manufacturing, energy, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, event management, education, non-profits, local and state government.

Finally, Marcia's ?claim to fame? is experiencing expatriate living with her family in Scandinavia and Australia. She has traveled in over 30 countries throughout Europe, the Middle East, Far East, and South Pacific. She welcomes invitations to speak internationally so that she can add to her growing list of interesting places to explore.