This is the time of year we celebrate school graduations. All students embark on their studies with the expectation that some day they will be moving on to another life experience. In some way, your direct reports have the same expectation. How prepared are you for your direct report’s “graduation?”
One of the best practices for preparing for the departure of a direct report is to cross-train other team members on key job functions. Delegate the identification, documentation, and training of these important activities to your direct reports. Challenge them to implement effective backup procedures and test how well they work when they are on vacation. This gives the leader peace of mind that the job will be covered when the incumbent moves on.
Empower your direct reports to cross-train each other and your group will still be successful when a key member “graduates.”
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