How To Snag A Management Position

Hope you guys enjoy today’s guest post from my friend Mila! Let us know what you think!

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Let’s face it, millennials are struggling in the job market these days. Despite being the most educated generation to date, a whole bunch of us are unemployed and others are UNDERemployed. Those of us who are underemployed have to deal with the fact that we’re likely under PAID too, and with all this student debt we’ve got to deal with, this isn’t the ideal situation!

We need to start moving up in our careers so that we can start earning enough sweet sweet moola to afford to pay our student loans, keep a roof over our heads, and save for our futures!

Often, one of the big steps to moving up in a career is some kind of management position. So how can you make sure you’re ready when that opportunity arises? Well, you can start off by recognizing managerial qualities in yourself. If you can see qualities in yourself that make a good manager, you ought to foster and develop them so that when a position becomes available, you’re seen as the obvious choice.

So here are some of the things you should focus on:

Leadership Qualities

Since a job in management will likely be a leadership position, it makes sense that the main qualities you want to have would fall under that category. People often attribute certain personality traits with leadership, but really, personality doesn’t have a lot to do with it. Being outgoing and assertive is good and all, but if you don’t know how to run and interact with a team, then it’s all for nothing.

Communication

Communication is definitely something you want to excel at. How many times have you and a boss had a huge problem that could have been solved with better communication? Probably quite a few! Nearly every time I’ve had a problem with a manager it was because they hadn’t fully communicated to me what they wanted when assigning me a task. So if you want to climb up the ranks at work, become an awesome communicator.

Know Your Stuff

Knowledge is another important trait of an effective manager and leader. When a staff member on your team needs a question to be answered, they’re going to look to you for it. A manager who knows the ins and outs of current projects is key to keeping work flowing productively. Managers are often responsible for training and mentoring new staff as well, and being able to answer any question a new employee might have will help their transition into the new job be a smooth one. It’s also good to be knowledgeable on aspects of managing that are not specific to the company you work for. Studying up on things like business ethics and conflict resolution before applying to be a manager will set you apart as someone who is taking leadership seriously.

Amp up your drive and learn to inspire

Drive and ambition are key to moving up in any workplace. Anyone trying to obtain a management position probably has drive already, but using that drive to inspire others is a different story. Great managers inspire their team. They’re the designated team cheerleader. Because sometimes, needing a job isn’t enough motivation for someone to give their best effort at work, but if you can motivate your team with passion and encouragement, you’ll have employees who want to work hard for the good of the team. So if you feel that your inspiration skills are lacking, work on them! Find the method that works best for you and your personality, and hone in on that skill.

Personal Character

Along with leadership skills, you’re going to want to look at your personal characteristics as well. Are you someone people can respect? Do people trust you? Do people appreciate you? If you aren’t sure of the answer, take a step back and look at these characteristics. Do you show others respect? Trust? Appreciation? Everyone knows the golden rule: treat others how you want to be treated. If you never respect anyone, whether they’re above or below you, you can’t expect anyone to respect you. Same goes for trustworthiness and appreciation. Treat those around you well, and you’ll be recognized by your bosses as someone your coworkers could rally behind.

While moving into a management position isn’t the only way to make more money, it’s one of the most common ways an employee can move up in any organization. Improving your personal leadership qualities and characteristics will help you at any company you work for throughout your life, and increase your potential for getting hired and promoted.

Mila is a writer with a BA in English Linguistics living in beautiful Boise, ID. Her ambitions include traveling the world, studying languages, and taking pictures of her dog, Baymax. Connect with her on Twitter and Instagram!

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