Training Lacking for Branch Managers

Even though the vast majority of firm leaders agree that satellite office managers need to have a more developed skill set than project managers, it is the latter group that is much more likely to receive leadership and management training, concludes the Natick, Mass.-based market research firm ZweigWhite.

According to a recent survey, 96% of firm leaders state that a good project manager may not necessarily make a good satellite office manager, yet only 22% of firms provide formal management training for office managers, whereas 76% of firms will train project managers.

“A branch leader needs broader financial management skills, strong communication and interpersonal skills, and a solid grasp of marketing principles and current human resources practices. The typical project-focused professional may not bring all these attributes to his or her new role,” claims Kathryn Sprankle, a management consultant and executive recruiter for ZweigWhite’s San Francisco office.

“This is where the right guidance and education can make the difference between a thriving, profitable satellite operation and one that’s just bumping along,” she adds.

For more information on the firm’s 2002 Multi-Office Firm Survey of A/E/P & Environmental Consulting Firms , visit www.zweigwhite.com .

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