Promoting someone before they’re ready causes all sorts of problems for you, the company and the employee. After you’ve verified the employee is a “fit” for the job by Profiling him or her, ask yourself these questions before making a decision.

Is the employee:

- Performing his/her current duties well enough to justify a promotion?

- Experienced and qualified to do at least part of the new job?

- Willing to give his/her current responsibilities to someone else?

- Familiar with the new position’s responsibilities?

- Proficient in the interpersonal skills necessary to work with others in a new role?

- Adequately trained or willing to be?

- Prepared to bow out gracefully if the promotion doesn’t work out as planned?

The more questions you can answer “yes” to, the better the chances for the promotion to succeed. Investigate and resolve any “no’s” before making any change.