There are lots of tools you can use to help yourself be more organized. If you’re more old school, you can try using things like planners, calendars, and sticky notes to keep track of tasks, to-do lists, and goals. More modern options include smartphone apps and project management software that help you keep track of all your projects and their progress. Examples of things you might need to organize and keep track of as a manager include team tasks, project deadlines, budget, and other resources.
Junior managers are typically less involved in the setting of goals, but all managers need to know how to plan ways to achieve the goals that are handed down by more senior leadership. For example, if you manage a sales team, you may need to plan how you are going to reach quarterly sales goals for the company.
You can think of this as switching from an “I” to a “we” mindset. Start making “we” statements and thinking about how “we” can achieve something instead of how “I” can do my job. Examples of how you can be a team player include helping out others with their tasks and workloads, attributing wins to the whole team rather than just yourself, keeping your team informed, supporting and respecting others, and being reliable and responsible.
You will need to be able to communicate in a variety of settings to be a manager, including in-person, on calls, via email, in meetings, and one-on-one. For example, if you want to be a social media marketing manager, you can practice writing up weekly professional reports on social media interactions and followings.
If you’re not a natural leader, that’s OK. You can learn by observing other leaders in your job, such as managers or senior leadership members, and try to learn by imitation. You could even ask for a one-on-one meeting with someone who you look up to as a leader and ask them for tips about how they do their job. For example, if you end up managing a team of sales associates at a shoe store, you will have to delegate who will handle what section of the store and provide sales goals for each employee. If you don’t have any opportunities at work to take on leadership roles, you could seek out other opportunities. For example, volunteer to be a team captain of a recreational sports team.
In order to make good decisions as a manager, you’ll often have to look at things objectively and without emotional attachment. You’ll need to make decisions for the good of the team and the company, rather than for yourself. For example, if you become a manager of a team that receives a budget cut and you have to let someone go, you will have to evaluate each team member’s performance to decide who is contributing the least to the team, even if there is nobody that you particularly feel like should be fired.
You can do this by doing 1 thing that scares you every day. You will eventually feel confident and less shy about taking on challenges and handling uncomfortable situations, as you will have to do as a manager.
This will also make others around you respect you more, so they’ll be more willing to follow you when you move up to a leadership role.
You can do this by following the 110% rule. This means always do 100% of what’s expected of you, then do 10% more.
For example, if you notice a certain process like sending sales reports is taking much longer than it needs to and wasting employees’ time, find a way to speed it up by automating or streamlining certain parts. Present your proposed solution to your manager or supervisor and explain why you think it will improve things.
This will also demonstrate your interpersonal and communication skills, as well as help you maintain a good rapport with coworkers. All of these things will help prove you are ready for management responsibilities.
For example, if your manager or supervisor asks for a volunteer to take on some of the team’s reporting duties, volunteer yourself to do this. These types of leadership duties could also fall outside of your specific job or team responsibilities. For example, if your organization needs someone to help organize a company holiday party, you could volunteer to do this.
You can do this in any industry that you want to pursue a management career in. Pick something that you have an interest in and preferably have at least a base level of knowledge and experience in.
You could even ask if there is an opportunity for you to take on a mentor who is already a manager in the organization. You could shadow them to learn about their job duties and help them out with certain tasks to develop your skills.
Make sure to update your resume with any specific achievements you’ve made during your time at the company and any additional skills and qualifications that you’ve gained. You may be the best candidate in the applicant pool if you have relevant experience. [18] X Expert Source Brandy DeOrnellas, PCC, ESQ. Career & Life Transition Coach Expert Interview. 15 December 2021. Ask your manager or supervisor to put in a good word for you with HR.
