We can divide careers in the workforce into two main paths: the professional path and the managerial path. Yes, we know, this is a rough division, but in order to progress, we need to generalize. Naturally, the foundation of a career is professional. No manager has ever dropped into a managerial position at their first workplace. That is, you start with certain training, and at a later stage, after gaining experience, the managerial bug bites those who are interested in it. And yes, many prefer to stay in their professional niche and continue to specialize. A managerial position may seem glamorous, but it includes a lot of responsibility, pressure, and many “headaches.”
How many times have you told yourself that you know your job just as well as your manager or even better? How many times have you felt that if someone truly appreciated your professionalism, you would have been promoted long ago? How many times have you asked yourself why this isn’t happening?
If your heart desires management and you’re “aiming high,” mastery and control of your professional role won’t always be enough to propel you up the managerial ladder. If you want to move into the managerial path, you should start implementing steps that will help you get on it properly.
Your profession is the foundation
As mentioned, management is an advanced stage, and your organization assesses you based on your performance in your professional role. The reasonable assumption is that a strong professional foundation can facilitate the managerial task and the ability to influence both up and down in accordance with the organization’s goals.
Position yourself as experts and don’t rest on your laurels. Develop expertise in everything related to your professional field and demonstrate it elegantly in the workplace. Additionally, pursue further education, training, and keep yourself updated on the trends and methods relevant to your profession. This way, you can stand out professionally and, just as importantly, develop tools and capabilities in adapting to changes, a crucial aspect for any manager in the current era.
Look for new projects in your professional field. Show a willingness to take on new challenges and don’t be afraid to dive into the deep end. Take on projects that you haven’t executed or faced before without hesitation. Demonstrating initiative and courage is an important process in adopting managerial traits and patterns.
Seek to streamline processes in your area of expertise. Just because things are done a certain way doesn’t mean you can’t find ways to improve them. Remember that most people tend to be fixated. Those who want to get on the path to career success must find ways to stand out.
The qualities that will mark you as candidates for the next generation of managers
Planning at an early stage is of utmost importance. Define in advance the managerial career path that could suit you, even if it changes (and it will change!) along the way. Set yourself a managerial goal, and while fulfilling your role, discuss your promotion options with your superior. Ask clearly and openly what practical steps you need to take to advance to the next stage in the hierarchy and don’t hesitate to ask for guidance.
Connecting with and knowing what’s happening in your organization are important elements. To know when to talk about promotion or jump into new projects, it’s advisable to do so at the appropriate times and with tact. Talking about promotion when the hallway conversations are already about the one who has been marked won’t shine a positive light on you in the eyes of your managers. Listen to what’s happening around you, strive to create connections with people from other departments, and be aware of what’s going on.
Managers manage people. Show openness to working with different types of people and a variety of personalities and work styles. Don’t let a complex process or less agreeable people discourage you, weaken you, or frustrate you. Be confident in your abilities and demonstrate confidence and positivity.
Additionally, one of the important qualities in management is flexibility. Always leave room for changes in schedules, goals, and areas of responsibility. The ability to adapt to changes (even unexpected ones) is a necessary trait, so if your boss just changed your schedule, complaining and saying, “You can’t work like this,” is not the way to move forward.
And in conclusion, the Oscar goes to…
Management is not an easy task. To be successful managers, you need to satisfy many people with diverse and sometimes conflicting needs, and in many cases, finding the balance point is quite complex. The foundation is professional, but the managerial career path requires abilities and tools that are not directly related to your profession. We can summarize the various tips and steps mentioned here in a somewhat military tone – think outside the box. Go one or two steps further than what is expected of you when it can add value to the project or task you are working on.