How to Tell Youre Ready to Be a Manager at Work - The Muse

How to Tell Youre Ready to Be a Manager at Work - The MuseHow to Tell Youre Ready to Be a Manager at Work Youre interested in stepping up into a management role with your current company, but theres just one question that keeps nagging at you Are you ready?Sure, youve produced consistently great results in your existing position and have forged some solid bonds with many of your colleagues. Youre proud of that- but, youre also unsure of whether or bedrngnis that truly means youre cut out for a step up the proverbial ladder.Fortunately, there are a few other telltale signs you can keep your eye out for that will help you figure out whether or not youre actually management material.1. Youre Actually Excited About Answering QuestionsYour colleague drops by your desk unexpectedly with a question about a sales report shes compiling. How do you react? Do you see it as a hassle thats only throwing a major wrench in your workday? Or, do you view it as an opportunity? Heres an important thing to remember Being a manager means people are going to come to you with questions- and a lot of them. If the thought of that alone makes you clench your jaw, you might not be ready to make the sacrifice of stepping away from your own to-do list in favor of guiding others. But, if the chance to help other people learn and grow fills you with genuine enthusiasm? Well, a management roles calling your name. 2. Youre Comfortable Giving Up a Little ControlI know exactly what youre thinking Wait, what? Being a manager means I get even more control, doesnt it?Yes, technically, you get the title that warrants you bossing everybody else around. However, managing a team actually involves releasing some control. Youll have to trust that your direct reports are getting things done correctly- without being able to oversee every small detail.Put simply, youll have all of the accountability for what is produced, without being able to have your finger in every single pie, so to speak. Youll need to loosen the reins and empower others- even when they do things differently than you might have done them yourself. 3. Youre Eager to Be More CollaborativeYour team meeting is the highlight of your week, rather than the bane of your existence. You get genuinely excited to head into a brainstorming session, rather than looking at it as another logjam in your already packed calendar.A management role comes with lots and lots of meetings. Youll need to do regular sit-downs and check-ins with your team- both as a group and individually. Youll have to put your heads together with other supervisors and department leaders.In most cases, youre going to spend a solid chunk of your workweek away from your desk. You wont get a ton of time to put on your headphones and be heads down in your own work for hours at a time.Sounds horrible? You might not only be better as an individual contributor- youll probably be happier too. 4. Youre Already Known as a Problem SolverLike I mentioned earlier, manag ers need to act as resources for other people- particularly those who work directly under them. If youre already looked at as that go-to guide within your company, thats a solid indicator that youre ready to take on some more formal leadership duties.Everybody within your company- whether its a peer or a leader- knows that they can bring you a problem or a challenge, and youll roll up your sleeves and find a way to solve it. Youre actually motivated by identifying a way around those sticky situations. When thats the case, rest assured, you arent just ready to be a good manager- youre ready to be a great one. 5. Youre Invested in Other Peoples Success as Much as Your OwnIf one of your team members fails, youve failed. And, if one of your team members succeeds, you succeed.Its the most effective leaders who recognize that deceptively simple fact. Theyre highly invested in the growth and development of their direct reports- oftentimes, they prioritize that ahead of anything else (inclu ding their own advancement). Ask yourself How do you feel when somebody in your company achieves a major win? Are you filled with jealousy, or are you the one spearheading the celebration? Falling into that second category is a pretty reliable sign that youre a good fit for some leadership responsibilities. You dont want to become a manager for the sake of the title or the money (although, lets face it- those are definitely nice perks). If youre going to step up and accept a larger role within your company, you want to feel at least somewhat confident that youll do a good job with it.It can be challenging to tell whether or not youre truly ready to do that. But, keeping your eyes peeled for these five signs will help you determine if youre truly ready to take on that more demanding position.