How to Become a Manager: Are You Ready?

Do you think that you’re ready to take on the responsibility of being a manager? Many professionals dream of attaining a leadership role within an organization. They think of it as a way to fully utilize their skills and reach their potential. Some people believe that since they’ve been in a specific position for a set amount of years, that means they should be a manager. Others feel that because they are outspoken, it makes them management material. While being in a management or supervisory role can seem like a natural career progression, not everyone is ready or knows how to become a manager. It is ideal for managers to have a mix of technical, leadership, and emotional intelligence skills.

If you’ve never held a management role in the past, it is not easy to know if you are prepared for one. There are three skills you need to learn how to become a manager. It’s common for friends and family members to be biased in our favor, so talking to them doesn’t always provide the most objective viewpoint. Speaking with a trusted mentor or coach is something to consider and can often help evaluate your leadership potential. In addition, reviewing management job postings online can provide details about the background, experience, and skills recruiters are looking for in candidates.

Have a Personal Track Record of Success

Before someone can trust you to manage others, they must have confidence in your ability to lead yourself. When thinking about your career, have you had a personal track record of success? Do you have solid accomplishments that you could talk about from your current and previous positions? Is this type of information featured prominently on your resume? Having an established set of personal success stories can serve to support your candidacy for a management role. This enables a recruiter to envision the positive aspects you could bring to their open position or your current employer the value of training you on how to become a manager.

Lead Successful Special Projects or Initiatives at Work

Many professionals who haven’t technically had a manager title still have desirable past experience. Have you ever led any cross-functional teams on special projects? Were you ever responsible for any significant initiatives such as technology implementations or executing process changes? If so, how many people were a part of those teams, and what departments were they from? These instances can become excellent talking points during an interview when asked about your management experience. If you played a large part in any project that helped your organization make money, save time, or improve performance, it could be a great highlight.

Have a Strong History of Demonstrating Practical Leadership Skills

Have you ever been able to positively influence others to keep complex projects on track? Do people naturally come to you for support or assistance with completing tasks? Are you regularly teaching or training others on the most effective way to do things? If you have a strong history of demonstrating your leadership skills, it can show that you are a trusted contributor to your company and have great potential for success through training on how to become a manager. Many organizations offer additional leadership training for their managers. However, if you already know many technical, communication, and emotional intelligence skills, it can help you stand out from other candidates.

When considering if you are ready for a management role, it’s ideal if you can highlight specific areas that demonstrate your leadership abilities. Having a personal track record of success, experience leading special projects and initiatives, along with practical leadership skills are all compelling attributes. Obtaining a job as a manager can be challenging because you will likely be competing against others who might have more experience than you. We’ve previously covered how to develop your leadership skills at work. Upon reflection, are you ready for a management position?

Fly High Coaching can help you soar to your full potential and find your dream job. We offer career coaching services, interview preparation and resume makeovers to support your success. Contact us today to get started with our expert career coaches.  Check out our Land Your Dream Job 101 course for more information on how you can secure your desired job change.