The Path to Management is More Than Just a Title: Be Careful What You Ask For

The other day I received a phone call from a gentleman who used to work for me. It had been some time since we last spoke and I was eager to catch up on what was going on in his life and career. He shared with me that he is frustrated in his current role at his company and was in search of something more fulfilling. I asked if he had started applying for positions that better suited his interests and skills, and he replied that he had been looking both internally and externally but had not found anything yet.

As the conversation went on, I asked what type of position he was looking for and he replied that he wanted to get into “management”. In his current role, he is a customer service representative and has held similar positions like that in the past. From what I remember of his work experience, he has not held a position that involved management responsibilities, so I asked (hoping not to offend him), “Why management?”

Like many people I have spoken to over the years that have expressed a desire to break into management but who have unfortunately lacked the experience needed to get their foot in the door, I offered a few suggestions that may help him make his transition a little smoother, if in fact, he decides to follow the management career path.

1. Ask someone in a leadership role if they would be willing to mentor you and discuss the benefits, as well as the disadvantages of being in management
2. Familiarize yourself with key characteristics involved in not only managing, but managing effectively.
3. Assess your current skill set and determine what skills you still need to develop in order to be an effective leader.
4. Look towards a leader you admire and ask if they would mind if you shadowed them so that you could see what they do on a daily basis.
5. Informally interview people who report to someone you regard as an effective leader and see how they perceive that person’s leadership capabilities to be.

Remember that becoming a leader is more than a title and a nicer paycheck; it is a responsibility that comes with many ups and downs. When leaders are leading effectively and things are going well, it can be one of the most rewarding roles in the world. But when things are not going so well, that is when you learn that the path to management can be a bumpy road at times …so just be careful what you ask for.