There comes a point in everyone’s career when you hit a brick wall. You either need to jump ship and switch to a different company or move into a managerial position in your current company. Becoming a manager takes skill and dedication, and you need to make sure you are ready for the promotion.
Here are a few things to bear in mind if you’re thinking of getting into management.
Ask for help
You need to learn how to manage people. There’s a big difference between managing your workload and managing a whole team of people. You will probably need a mentor for advice, or you could take a few classes through a leadership development service. Read books, listen to podcasts, and try to learn as much as you can.
Develop people skills
As well as leadership skills, you also need to learn people skills. You need to learn how to react and function around different people. Sometimes you need to support your employees, and other times you need to discipline them. You need to collaborate with your team and help them to fix problems.
Show initiative
A potential manager needs to show initiative. Outline how you are going to reach a higher position in the company and the steps needed to get there. You could volunteer to help your boss run a staff training workshop or write the company’s annual budget. Show your boss that you’re ready to take on more responsibility within the company. However, make sure you also keep on top of your main job and don’t overwork yourself.
Make sure you’re becoming a manager for the right reasons
Think about why you want to become a manager and whether you are doing it for the right reasons. For example, you should want to become a manager for the challenge and new responsibility – not just for the money.
You need to be willing to learn new things and step outside of your comfort zone. Remember that other staff will look to you for an example of how to behave and act in certain situations. You need to have the necessary skills and passion required to do the job well.
A manager with a bad attitude can make everyone else feel unmotivated and unhappy. Enjoy the pay boost – but make sure you enjoy the job as well. You will need to dedicate a significant amount of time and energy to a manager position. If you don’t like the added responsibility, your staff could begin to notice, and it will have a wider impact on the company.
Prepare yourself to become a manager to help your team grow and overcome any challenges they might face. Use the resources around you and don’t be afraid to ask questions. If there is one constant in the world it’s that we’re always learning.
