Most new managers are in the dark about what it takes to be successful.

Finding the First Rung-A study from Development Dimensions International (DDI) on the challenges facing today's frontline leader, surveyed 1,130 supervisors and first-level managers to understand …

• how they're overcoming the challenges of their jobs and
• what is holding them back from being successful.
  
  The major findings of the study include:
  • 42% of new managers don't understand what it takes to succeed
  • 89% have at least one blind spot
  • Only 1 in 10 leaders were actually groomed for the job
  • Half took the role because of an increase in income - only 23% actually wanted to lead others
  • More than half of leaders learned through trial and error.

Some of that distress can be attributed to how people got the job

• 11% of respondents said they became a leader because there was no one else for the job.
• These 'accidental leaders' regretted the promotion the most,
• were less likely to have wanted the promotion to begin with and
• more likely to question their ability to lead others.

Clearly, management by default isn't an effective promotion strategy and companies need to do due diligence to select leaders who have

• the desire,
• motivation-and skills-to be a leader or you've failed the individual and the business.

Source: Coach2Coach e-newsletter, March 2011.