How to Get Into Management

Starting on a new career can be a daunting experience, particularly if it seems you have to start afresh; however, what if you could use your existing skills and knowledge and springboard into a different career? That what the How to Get Intro Series is all about.

How To Get Into Management

Sometimes it feels like the only way to move upward in a career, and to earn more money, is to consider a role in Management. This isn’t always the case, however in some careers there isn’t many places to go when you’ve reached the senior levels, other than to move into management. Management roles are not for everyone, so it’s important to consider why you want to move into management and if it is the right choice for you.

Typical Skills For Management

People Management - Typically most management roles involve managing people. Human Resource management can be time-consuming and difficult at time, and some managers feel frustrated that it takes time away from doing the work that they need to do. One of the most important tasks of a manager is managing their people; it is time-consuming, but when done well is very rewarding and reaps many benefits.

Team Player - A manager needs to motivate their team to be their best. Some managers feel that they do very little actual work other than planning, making decisions, and sorting out issues for other people. That’s fine, so long as they do these activities well. A Manager’s success is through the success of their people; there is little place in management for solo achievements.

Networking - Success in management can often come down to how well you can network and can effectively negotiate and influence others. To do well as a manager you need to build strong relationship with others in the management team, and build up a reputation as a reliable and competent manager.

Flexible - As a manager, it can often be very difficult to predict what a day will involve. Despite best efforts in planning, managers can very quickly find themselves thrown into managing a very different situation than anticipated because of an immediate issue that needs resolving. A manager needs to be able to react quickly and be able to move focus to had is most urgent.

Recommended Training To Prepare For The Role Of Manager

• Management training
• Management styles training
• Coaching skills
• Human Resource Management

Considerations For Becoming A Manager

• Would moving into management open up other career opportunities for you? Is this the long-term career direction that you want to head?
• Do you enjoy managing people and dealing with the more human resource related issues?
• Are you happy to let others do the work while you plan and oversee the activities?
• Are you competent at building up an effective network of working relationships?
• Are you considering a management role purely for financial reasons? Are there other opportunities where you could have a career change and earn more, without moving into management, if it is not the role for you?

Manager: A Case Study

Louise had worked as a technical writer for fifteen years and as the senior writer for the past five had found there was no further she could go in her career other than to have a complete change or to try management. When her manager decided to move on, Louise took the opportunity of becoming manager of the technical writing function. It was an area she technically understood very well, but she had very little experience in management. At first she struggled; but she quickly realised that she was still trying to hang onto her old job and actually do the work.

After some training in management styles, Louise was able to step back and allow her team to do the work, while she focused on planning the upcoming work and building up the reputation of the team within the organisation.

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