Do you really want to be a Manager?
by Joe Mayne

Many people think that the key to advancement is to be a "Manager." The title of "manager" most often indicates that you will have people directly accountable to you. This is a key point. Please remember this!

For some, being a manager is a power rush. The fact is…you can impact a person's career but you can rarely hire for fire them on your own. Times have changed. The military, hierarchical, follow orders blindly, mentality is gone.

As a manager you need to enlist the cooperation of your team. You are directed from your senior management (sometimes the owner) and you are expected to achieve results through your people. You need to get them to understand and even enthusiastically accept and implement change.

As you know this is usually getting more/better/faster results with less resources.

Give careful thought before you ask or accept the responsibility of "manager." Not only will you have your problems, but you also inherit the challenges, trials and trouble of each member of your team. In sales organizations, it is the manager who handles a route or sales territory when a member of the team is absent for any reason.

Be sure that you're cut out to be a manager before you accept the position.

In a recent article by in Fast Company magazine...Heath Row examined the management selection process at FEDEX. They have a selection process for their employees who are interested in becoming managers. It is called LEAP (Leadership Evaluation and Awareness Process) and it runs the prospectives through a rigorous course exposing them to the rewards of management but also the challenges.

At FEDEX they look for managers with nine specific leadership attributes. I'll list them here:

1. Charisma—Instills faith respect and trust.
Individual Consideration -- Coaches, advises and teaches.
2. Intellectual Stimulation -- Gets others to use reasoning and evidence rather than unsupported opinion.
3. Courage -- Willing to stand up for ideas even if they are unpopular.
4. Dependability -- Follows through and keeps commitments.
5. Flexibility -- Functions effectively in changing environments.
6. Integrity -- Does what is morally and ethically right.
7. Judgment -- Reaches sound and objective evaluations of alternative courses of action.
8. Respect for others -- Honors and does not belittle the opinions or work of others.

I can't encourage you enough to pick up a copy of this magazine (Fast Company) and read this article. While this is a template used by one company..I hope it helps you truthfully answer the question..."Do I really want to be a manager?"