Readiness
Someone is ready for a larger scope when they are already exercising that scope's judgment on real stakes, before they hold the title. Tenure, ambition and how much the person wants it do not count as readiness.
Evidence grade: practice A widely adopted practitioner model with clear provenance.
Use it when
Every promotion and succession decision, above all when the pull is toward whoever has waited longest or asked loudest.
Where it stops working
The person must have been given the chance to show the judgment. A readiness rule without stretch assignments amounts to a rule that nobody is ever ready.
Where the standard uses it
- PL-5Career development and growth pathsOne-on-ones, promotions, the Staff+ track, and the IC/manager choice.
- PL-6Leading through leadersSelecting, developing, and holding accountable the managers who report to you.
Used alongside it
- The one-on-one as the report's meeting practice
- Calibration practice
- Coaching managers through change practice
- Growth ladders and competency matrices practice
- Managing managers practice
- Sizing teams and spans practice
Cite this model
Chicago, BibTeX and licence →Engineering Management Academy. (2026). Readiness. In Engineering Management Academy Body of Knowledge (Version 3.1, TEC.readiness). https://www.engineeringmanagement.academy/body-of-knowledge/techniques/readiness