Three Reasons New Directors Fail to Thrive

And how to avoid it

Senior leaders frequently approach me with the same challenge: "My directors aren't succeeding — what can I do differently?"

It’s an important question. Directors (or heads of as they’re known in the UK) serve as linchpins in driving strategic priorities throughout the company. Positioned at the critical intersection between strategy and execution, their effectiveness directly determines how quickly your company can accelerate.

When organizations aren't getting what they need from directors, they've typically fallen into one of these three traps.

1. The Functional Expert Trap

When companies promote based primarily on functional expertise, they create directors who remain entrenched in operational details rather than embracing their strategic role. These newly promoted leaders fail to recognize a fundamental shift: their primary team is now their fellow directors, not their functional reports.

Instead of collaborating across departments to drive company-wide initiatives, they retreat to their comfort zone—managing daily operations and pursuing narrow functional goals. By missing the broader organizational perspective, they unknowingly create friction that impacts company-wide objectives.

An overemphasis on technical prowess leaves new directors unprepared for the actual expectations of their role. Lacking clear expectations of what successful organizational leadership looks like, they default to what they know best. Clear leadership competencies that define the strategic, cross-functional mindset directors need, ensures we help them reach their full potential.

2. The False Small Step

The transition from senior manager to director isn't incremental—it's transformational. In our rush to fill leadership gaps, we underestimate this chasm, treating it as a minor promotion rather than the fundamental role reinvention it is. The formal promotion is only the starting point of their journey.

Think of a director's development like scaling a mountain. The promotion merely delivers them to base camp, the true summit still looms far above. Ahead is an arduous climb requiring an entirely new mindset and skills that balances functional expertise with broader organizational responsibility.

Organizations must equip these new leaders with proper tools, sufficient time, and consistent support systems. The journey to becoming an effective director isn't measured in weeks — it's a long-term investment requiring deliberate preparation and sustained commitment. For directors to thrive, we need to acknowledge how massive this career leap truly is — and resource it accordingly.

3. The Insufficient Investment

Typical learning budgets — ranging from $500 to $1,500 annually — fall dramatically short for director development. These standard allowances might work for skill-specific training, but are inadequate for the comprehensive leadership transformation directors make.

The problem compounds when we expect new directors to guide their own development journey. They face a classic dilemma — they don't know what they don't know. Without structured guidance, they develop blind spots in critical leadership areas, creating organizational vulnerabilities that ripple throughout the company. When directors are underfunded, the stakes escalate dramatically —companies miss strategic targets, teams become misaligned, and execution falters.

To equip new directors for their metaphorical mountain climb, organizations must invest in comprehensive development roadmaps, targeted executive coaching, and immersive leadership training. As you prepare for your next budget cycle, carve out dedicated funding for director development — not as a nice-to-have perk, but as a strategic imperative.

Transform Your Directors Into Multipliers

It's tempting to assume newly promoted directors can figure it out on their own, with routine check-ins and a modest, self-directed learning budget. This hands-off approach is a costly mistake.

To transform directors into strategic multipliers, you must prioritize company-wide leadership development and commit meaningful resources to closing their capability gaps. The return is substantial: directors who don't merely manage departments but accelerate your entire strategy. Invest in their growth today or pay for misalignment tomorrow.

Unleash Your Directors' Full Strategic Potential

Constellary’s Director's Accelerator provides the structured development path your newly promoted leaders need to make the leap from functional experts to organizational leaders.

Ready to transform your directors into the strategic force your organization needs? Book a strategy session to discover how the Director's Accelerator can solve your most pressing leadership challenges. If you’re a Director looking for support, let’s talk about how I can help.