The vast majority of managers didn’t necessarily set out to become leaders in their organizations. What usually happens is this: Those who are very good at their jobs (those with technical ability) are given more and more work. Over time, they need people to help them. If they are willing and available, these people are given supervisory responsibilities, sometimes informally at first. Eventually they become managers and are taught how to complete the additional paperwork that comes with their managerial responsibilities.

The problem is, especially among the best young technical talent today, that there are a lot of people who are committed to their work and career but are reluctant to take on supervisory roles. One potential factor is that those younger employees can see the experiences of their own managers: Managers, especially new managers, are often given loads of additional responsibility with very little additional support.

Without support and guidance from above, new young leaders often have a hard time establishing their credibility and getting others to respect their new authority. Under these circumstances, new managers are likely to soft-pedal their authority with some people and disproportionately lean on others. Way too often, new leaders are set up for frustration and failure.

When you ask a young star to step up and make the transition to a leadership role—at any level—you owe it to that new leader and their team to make sure that they are fully prepared to take on additional responsibilities and authority.

Teach new leaders how to do the people work, and then support and guide them in this new role every step of the way:

When identifying the right superstars for leadership advancement, look for those young people who love the responsibility and the service. Look for those who consistently practice the basics of management with discipline. Look for those who spend the most time patiently teaching. Look for those who want to lift people up and make them better. They will likely be your future leaders.