Train Your Replacement

September 14, 2008

Q: I read in the past your statement about “always be training your replacement.”
Would you mind expounding on that concept:
Martin, Plant Manager, Youngstown, OH

A: I firmly believe that one should always be training his/her replacement at all times and here is why. Your title says Plant Manager. If you are continually working with an employee or two, grooming them to learn your job and take your place, you will be ready!

Ready for what you ask? Ready for the following:

i. Ready when a promotion might come along and the boss says, I’d give you that promotion if who have an employee that can take your place? No replacement, no promotion.
ii. Training other employees to your level will instill in your team an abundance of strength.
iii. Giving other employees your knowledge and helping them grow will make them better employees, make them feel appreciated & wanted and demonstrate your internal quality as a person/leader.

Just think of the power of what I just said. If everybody on your team was helping each other grow, production would be up, morale would be up, growth would be up, employees would want to come to work each day and perform a quality job. This is true for a production line an office or at the executive level. Nobody is exempt.

And if your mindset is, “well if I teach all I know, they won’t need me and then he/she will try to take my job,” PLEASE DON’T!!! Paranoia is not healthy and is not warranted. Give of yourself, help grow the people around you and the results will amaze you. Hopefully your immediate supervisor and his/her supervisor above will read this and everybody in your company will get on the program of caring about each other. Wow, what a concept, caring about each other in a warm and friendly workplace! 

As the fourth week of the month of September begins , I wish you a great week and a prosperous run in business and in health, to the end of the year.

Regards,

George F. Mancuso, CPC
www.GmanSearch.com