Ready for a Promotion? Do These Things to Become a Great Manager!
Posted March 7th, 2019
At some point in your career, you will likely feel ready to take on a new challenge. If you have reached the top of your career path as an individual contributor, then shifting into a management role is a logical step.
However, transitioning into a leadership role does not happen on its own. You have to law the groundwork and demonstrate that you have what it takes to be a great manager. If you are ready to take the leap, here is what you need to do.
Do a Self-Assessment
Every person has strengths and weaknesses. Before you can make your case as to why you should get a chance to join the management team, conducting a self-assessment is wise.
When you evaluate what you have to offer and where your shortcomings lie, you can determine if there is anything else you may need to do or work on before trying to land a promotion. This gives you a chance to address your weaknesses in advance, acquire any missing skills, or seek out opportunities that help you gain experience in the right areas.
However, it is important not to stop there. You also need to decide whether you would actually enjoy a role in management. Often, transitioning means abandoning your individual contributor persona, relying more on delegation than hands-on doing, and providing feedback, guidance, and constructive criticism to others. This is not something that suits everyone, and it is okay if it is not right for you. However, you want to try and make this determination before you become a manager. Otherwise, you may find that your new role isn’t as fulfilling as you’d hoped.
Flex Your Leadership Muscles
While you do have to be promoted to officially call yourself a manager, that does not mean you can’t be a leader in your organization. By embracing the traits that make an excellent manager now, you can grow your leadership skills and demonstrate your capabilities.
Look for opportunities to lead projects and share your knowledge willingly with other team members. Strive to always exceed expectations whenever you take on any task, no matter how small, and focus on idea creation and finding solutions.
All of these characteristics are common in great managers. By highlighting your abilities in those areas, you increase your odds of looking like a strong management candidate.
Be Your Own Advocate
You don’t become a manager by waiting for an opportunity to be set in your lap. Instead, you need to make your desire to move up known. Otherwise, current company leaders may not be aware of your interest in joining the management ranks.
Once you have the right skills and experience to flourish as a manager, speak with your boss about your career goal. Let them know that you would like to land a management position and ask them to identify steps you can take to achieve your dream. You can also share details about what you bring to the table, ideally backed up with concrete examples that showcase your capabilities.
By using the tips above, you are functioning as your own advocate, increasing the odds that you will be noticed for all of the right reasons.
Get Assistance With Your Career From Bayside Solutions!
If you are interested in exploring management roles, the staff at Bayside Solutions can help you examine your options. Contact us to discuss your goals with a member of our recruitment team today and see how our career planning expertise can benefit you.
