The senior manager

The senior manager within the business is ging to be excellent at their own discipline.

They are going to be;

• A good manager
• A specialist, perhaps
• Well known within the firm
• Indoctrinated in the firm’s ways
• Probably lacking experience from outside of the firm
• A safe pair of hands

It is perhaps this last trait which could be the biggest negative, despite its name.

A safe pair of hands will not necessarily drive the business forward as it will generally not wish to

• make investment,
• go into new markets,
• develop new products
• enter new geographical areas

The senior manager will be the caretaker. He/she will lack the gravitas to carry the day when difficult decisions are made.

A big question; will they be able to convince a finance house to back them? Can they raise money?

The answer to this will generally be ‘no’. the charisma of the entrepreneur and the idea that he can fulfil his business aims from his own self-belief does not ordinarily transfer. It can transfer but not easily.

Think about your own personality. Are you a real entrepreneur?