Giving Feedback and Coaching for Performance Improvement

Overview: The following is feedback to be given to the GM of a $2.2 billion dollar division of a major Fortune 500 company. He has been with the company for 25 years and now makes approximately $800,000 in annual salary, not including bonuses. He is arrogant, self-absorbed, and focused on financial performance to the exclusion of most other system issues (e.g., personnel, marketing, general management, etc.). The feedback was solicited from his subordinates in a facilitated meeting to assess what future directions the division needs to take. The memo is addressed to the GM’s direct supervisor, the V.P. of Operations.

Your Task: Read carefully the feedback from his subordinates and make suggestions on the following: 1. How should this feedback be presented to the General Manager and by whom? 2. What leadership skills and competencies do you believe are the most crucial ones necessary for this GM to develop? 3. What would be your recommendation(s) now? In other words, what are the steps, in order, that you would suggest next?
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To: V.P. of Operations From: Management Consultant RE: Feedback for General Manager

1) Feedback for the General Manager

Positives

a) Good strategic thinker b) Strong financial skills and orientation c) Good political sense

Areas for improvement

a) Constantly switches priorities without telling people what he is thinking. b) Asks for input and then disregards. c) His financial background can create an additional layer of double checking and justification (financial review) which have a tendency of slowing things down and causing a loss of momentum