Taking Charge

Abstract

‘It is with great pleasure and considerable terror that I stand before you today’. So goes the practised introduction to an after-dinner speech that goes on to describe the links of the speaker with the audience that give him such pleasure. The ‘terror’ arises because of the weight of the task coupled with the knowledge that there are such capable people surrounding him These, I believe, are exactly the thoughts of first-time general managers as they approach the rather daunting task ahead of them. Indeed, it may perhaps provide a crumb of comfort to learn that these feelings never completely disappear as even experienced managers approach new challenges of new positions whether within the same company or beyond.