Business Education

Two Rockstars, One Promotion—Here’s How Smart Managers Make the Toughest Call

When two exceptional employees are vying for the same promotion, the decision becomes one of the most challenging yet crucial choices a small business owner can make. Both candidates have proven their worth and demonstrated leadership potential, making the selection process far more complex than simply comparing performance metrics.

The stakes are high: promote the right person, and you strengthen your team’s future; choose poorly, and you risk losing talent and damaging morale.

Rather than relying on gut instinct, successful managers approach this dilemma with a structured framework that looks beyond surface-level achievements to evaluate strategic thinking, cultural fit, growth potential, and the specific needs of the role ahead.

5 Steps to Choose Who to Promote Between Two Star Employees

This is a big decision because when you have two top performers, both of whom appear to be the best fit for the same promotion, you can only go with one. It’s a good problem to have, but it’s still a problem. The wrong choice can sow division, tank morale, or even cause you to lose great talent. So, here’s how to navigate this high-stakes decision with clarity, empathy, and strategic foresight.

1. Define the Role’s True Needs

Before comparing candidates, define what success in the new role truly looks like.

Is it mostly strategic or still hands-on?
Does it require cross-functional collaboration, vision setting, or people management?
Are you looking to scale something that’s already working or lead transformative change?

Once you’re clear on the mission, you can assess which candidate aligns best, not with their past performance, but with the future demands of the role.

2. Look Beyond Metrics

Star employees often have stellar KPIs, but numbers alone don’t make a leader. Consider the following:

Influence: Who do others turn to for guidance or inspiration?
Resilience: Who thrives under pressure, adapts quickly, and keeps others steady?
Initiative: Who goes beyond their job scope to spot and solve problems?

These qualitative traits often separate a high performer from a high-potential leader.

3. Evaluate Cultural Impact

Promotion isn’t just about upward performance—it’s about how someone lifts those around them. Ask yourself:

Who mentors others or champions the team’s growth?
Who models your company’s values when no one’s watching?
Who adds to—not just fits into—your culture?

The ripple effect of a promotion is real. Choose someone whose impact elevates the collective.

4. Consider Timing and Trajectory

Sometimes, both employees are capable, but one may be more ready right now.

Who has the broader skillset today?
Who could thrive even more with time, mentorship, or a different opportunity?

If one star isn’t quite there yet, it doesn’t mean they won’t shine even brighter in the next round. Be transparent and offer a clear growth path.

5. Be Thoughtful, Transparent, and Kind

Whatever your decision, communicate with care. Explain how the choice was made, acknowledge both candidates’ contributions, and outline what’s next. If someone isn’t promoted this time, make sure they’re seen, supported, and set up for success in the future.

Here’s the bottom line. Promotions aren’t rewards for the past—they’re bets on the future. When you choose the right person for the role, not just the one with the best track record, you set your team—and both star employees—up for long-term success.

Want to Accomplish More?

Do you want your company to grow faster and earn more while spending more time with your family doing everything you started your business to do?

We can make that dream a reality. Give us 30 minutes, and we will show you how to get your life back. Skeptical? Good! Put us to the test.

You can call us for your free appointment at 480-636-1720, or, if you prefer, send us an email. You can also visit us at Waters Business Consulting Group to learn more about us and the services we offer. … And don’t forget to check up out on LinkedIn!

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Is This the Most Valuable Business Lesson of the Ukraine War?

March 6, 2025 No Comments

Sensational headlines about ending the Ukraine-Russia war dominated the news last week and will likely continue for several days, weeks, or months.

Why a Recession Spells O-p-p-o-r-t-u-n-i-t-y for Successful Entrepreneurs

August 16, 2022 No Comments

As every savvy business owner knows, their company is not only subject to seasonality in at least some industries, but it can also be positively or negatively impacted by the overall national economic landscape and more particularly, the macroeconomy of their local community. So, there are cycles, or ups and downs, which more or less can be predicted. However, these factors don’t necessarily dictate every aspect of how they operate their businesses during good or bad times. Entrepreneurs still have quite a bit of say and it’s essential to understand that business owners are not totally helpless in uncertain times. The smartest and boldest entrepreneurs know and understand this, which is why they use recessionary periods to their advantage. One of the biggest debates in the business world really centers around individual personalities. In other words, two business owners in the same industry competing for the same consumer dollars might react in two totally different ways. When inflation spikes, interest rates go up, and consumers pull back their spending, one entrepreneur might also decide to pull back and scale down. This is not the time for inertia and despair or running around like the proverbial scaredy-cat. Instead of dwelling on the negatives as so many others do, realize that their preoccupation gives you a chance to one-up them. In fact, to be really contrarian about it, think of this catastrophe as a gift. The gift of challenges and opportunities. Challenges are what make business so exciting. Now’s the time to look for new, sustainable opportunities to grow your business and make it stronger. —Inc.com Meanwhile, the other business owner looks at this as an opportunity. Although consumers may be pulling back a bit, it doesn’t mean they can totally go without the goods and services they need. And, seeing that one of his chief competitors has decided to play it safe means there is a serious opportunity to be had for the bold entrepreneur. How Successful Entrepreneurs Turn a Recession into Opportunity Unfortunately, as stated above, this really depends on personality or more particularly mindset. Entrepreneurs who play it safe and try to ride out economic downturns will probably survive and even grow when things turn around. But, those people who played it safe might see a competitor grab up more market share because that rival decided to do the opposite. Here are some of the ways savvy business owners can take advantage of a recession: Increase advertising. The companies who continue to market their businesses aggressively will practically always reap the rewards and gain a return on investment. While others cut back on their advertising, entrepreneurs who are bolder and continue or increase their advertising put themselves in a stronger position in the marketplace. Buy out competition. This is something that happens regularly in certain professions, for instance, financial advisors. When one individual retires or a firm is winding down its operations, buying a book of business is quite common. Think about doing the same in your industry and how that could benefit your company in the long term. Streamline operations strategically. It’s not all just about going bigger, it’s also about being smart about how you’re running your business. Take some time to review your logistics and budget to see where you can streamline things to cut expenses while maximizing revenue. What other suggestions do you have? Please take a moment to share your thoughts and experiences so others can learn from you! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

Here are the 3 Biggest Self-Imposed Entrepreneurial Roadblocks

June 27, 2018 No Comments

More often than not, the person in the mirror is the individual who is most to blame for your problems. Usually, lack of success isn’t due to external circumstances or a run of bad luck. Poor decisions are typically the culprit. And, these mostly come from the failure to recognize certain self-imposed roadblocks. How Modern Culture undermines Businesses Now, this doesn’t mean there are never any real externalities which play a significant role. Just take a quick look at modern culture. Practically everything is now on-demand. We live at a time where immediate gratification is normal. But, that’s a dangerous situation. Success is what every business person and entrepreneur desires from the very core of their being. They have a dream, a genius idea and an initial excitement to make it happen. Having a great idea and building a sustainable empire, however, are very different things and many, if not most, fail. To rank among those who succeed you must master certain disciplines to avoid sabotaging your own success. —Entrepreneur.com You first need to instill self-discipline and realize it’s more advantageous to accomplish your biggest goals in small steps. An incremental approach will cause you to think through scenarios and have a more clear understanding. However, just taking it step-by-step might not be enough. 3 Biggest Self-Imposed Entrepreneurial Roadblocks Let’s get back to how too many entrepreneurs sabotage themselves. They put up roadblocks which keep them from realizing their full potential. So, here’s the three most common self-imposed roadblocks you need to recognize and deal with: Not recognizing futility for what it is. If you’ve ever seen the movie “Wargames,” then you know the scene when Dr. Stephen Falken uses the example of tic-tac-toe to illustrate the importance of recognizing futility. But, that’s the exact opposite of what we hear time and time again. You’re not supposed to give up. Keep fighting and find a way. However, there are times when it’s just futile and you can’t win. Remember Einstein said repeating the same thing and expecting different results is the definition of insanity. Seriously doubting your own abilities. This is perhaps the most common self-imposed roadblock. It’s natural to have reservations, even to feel fear and/or doubt. Although, too much doubt is a poison pill. It’s simply paralyzing and ultimately self-defeating to give into unrealistic doubts. Saying “Yes” when “No” is appropriate. We’ve all heard the advice to give things away for free or at little cost. Additionally, to always help others. But, saying “Yes,” can easily obstruct your ability to grow your business. After all, you need to focus on your own business to build it up before you can actually be in a position to help others do the same with their companies. What other self-imposed roadblocks have you overcome? How do you move past your own limitations? Please share your thoughts by commenting and joining the conversation! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.