We wouldn’t hand a Ferrari to someone who just got their license last week.
The thought alone makes us wince. The speed, the power, the responsibility – it’s not about gatekeeping. It’s about readiness. We want them to survive the drive. We want the car to survive too.
Yet every day, in conference rooms across the world, organizations do exactly this. They promote the eager, the loyal, the well-liked into leadership roles they’re utterly unprepared for.
No test drive. No hours logged at lower speeds. No evidence that they can handle the curves when they come fast and hard. And later, no acknowledgment; they need time to get up to speed.
We call it a promotion. They call it a car crash waiting to happen.
Here’s what I’ve learned coaching mid-market founders: the fastest way to stall your growth is to put unproven drivers in mission-critical seats. Not because they lack potential – but because potential without preparation is just expensive hope.
Show me you’ve driven. Show me you’ve handled speed, pressure, decisions when the road disappears into fog. Show me you’ve earned the muscle memory that kicks in when instinct matters more than intellect.
Then I’ll hand over the keys.
Not before.
Because the cost isn’t just a dented fender. It’s lost momentum, broken trust, and a team wondering why competence became optional.
If you’re promoting someone into a role that will define your next chapter, ask yourself: Would I let them drive my most valuable asset? If the answer requires hesitation, you already know what to do.
