People think that becoming a manager is an absolute privilege, but they don't know its truth.
We know on Dr. Job pro that becoming a manager is one of the most complicated roles ever; that's why there are ten questions you should ask yourself before taking this huge step.
1- Are you a good communicator?
Communication
is a primary key for making a great manager. You are the leader of your team,
so you're responsible for helping them achieve their work goals.
Leadership
is not about giving orders to your team. It revolves around the way you express
the tasks, the missions, the goals, and the plan.
Furthermore,
you need to teach your team more about how the tasks should be done and the
results of their hard work for the whole company.
The more you
create effective methods of communication, the more you'll be a good leader,
role model, and an excellent example for your team members.
2- How do you see yourself in 5 years?
Ensure that
you want to stick to the corporate world for the near upcoming years of your
life.
Management
is a huge responsibility. It's also highly overwhelming; once you start being a
manager, many things change in yourself.
Ask yourself
if being a manager suits you or not. Think further of your plans and dreams.
Moreover, think thoroughly about who you are and what you want from your career
life.
3- Can you take responsibility for your team's actions?
As a
manager, you're not only responsible for your actions, as the team's work is a
part of your role too.
Ensure that
you can be brave enough to take responsibility for any mistake made by a team
member.
Remember
that if a team member messes up, it's initially your fault. Mistakes happen for
a reason, maybe because of a lack of training or any other possible causes.
In addition to
that, your team members should feel safe enough under the umbrella of your
leadership by you being accountable for their performance.
4- Do you communicate openly and honestly?
As mentioned
before, communication skills are vital when it comes to management.
A manager
should be open and honest enough about the issues, the conflicts, and the team's
failures. You'll be facing problems daily, and you'll have to deal with them
wisely.
Ask yourself
if you can provide that kind of environment to your team by making them feel
heard. If not, you should probably start working on yourself.
5- Do you have good relationships with people in your company?
Being on
good terms with other co-workers in your company is essential for any manager.
We don't
here talk only about your team members, but we mean colleagues beyond your
team. Sometimes you'll need advice, services, or support from those.
You might
also need to see things from a broader perspective by getting to know others.
It's also beneficial for your team that their manager has good relationships
with co-workers.
Eventually, building
positive relationships is the key to success, as most people reach higher
places in their career lives only by being socially intelligent.
6- Can you motivate and reassure your team members?
Ask yourself
if you have the mental capacity to deal with your team members' failures and
disappointments.
You are dealing
with human beings who have complicated personalities, thoughts, and issues.
Bear in mind that they also have personal lives that might affect work
sometimes.
Being a
manager also includes empathy and understanding. You have to be smart enough to
balance between firmness and flexibility.
Additionally, it's essential to know how to make your team motivated again after any crisis or disappointment.
For more information, 5 Ways to Show Appreciation in The Workplace
7- Can you be firm with team members?
As mentioned
before, it's essential to know how to balance between being firm and understanding,
both at the same time.
Sometimes
you'll have to make tough decisions like firing someone or dealing with the
laziness of a team member.
It's vital
to know how to be firm in an emotionally intelligent way to achieve your
purpose without causing massive damage to a person's life.
8- Will that affect your health?
As we always
consider your physical and mental health, being a manager can affect you
negatively if you don't pay enough attention.
If you're a
person who easily breaks down under pressure, cannot handle stress, or cannot
handle the spotlight, being a manager is probably not for you.
Talk to your
therapist and ask for their opinion about this step. They will probably help
you make the right decision.
9- Can you deal with unconscious bias?
Humans
mostly tend to support each other if they have similar backgrounds, but what if
they are different?
It's
essential to be aware of your bias and which factors it's based on. Being fair
and objective are vast parts of management.
You cannot
support specific team members only because you like them. That's unprofessional
and unfair at all.
10- Are you ready to invest time and effort to help your team members?
As
everything comes with a price, being a manager takes so much time and effort
than a regular team member.
Your role
requires you to always be there for your team members and help them whenever
they face any issues. Being a manager requires you to be always present.
It will also
take so much effort from you to pay attention to everyone and make sure they're
doing their best.
Being a manager is a noble thing to do, but don't forget to ask yourself the previous questions before making any decisions.