How to Become a Manager - Even if You Have No Previous Experience

Throughout my 18 years of business consulting one of the greatest frustrations my clients experience is around management. Either trying to become a manager, supervisor or team leader with little or no experience, or problems with difficult managers.

As a result, I've spent a LOT of time coaching those who want to become a manager and providing them with the resources on how to be a good manager from day one of their career with the aim of fixing their second problem in the long-term. But first thing's first. You have to get the job, before you can do the job and here's what you need to know in order to take the next step up the corporate ladder:

*** Know Your Value

Most employees never realize how valuable their skills and knowledge are. As a result, they feel 'lucky' just to have a job, as opposed to thinking THEIR EMPLOYER is lucky to have THEM! That's the first step into becoming a manager - knowing you have what it takes and are capable of making valuable contributions to an organization.

*** Showcase your Skills

You've no doubt come across those annoying people who love to blow their own horn, it's all about them, them and them. But have you also noticed that the more they tell everyone how good they are the more opportunities come their way? You don't want to be someone who people roll their eyes at, but you can highlight your skills in a powerful way to fast-track yourselves into a management career.

*** Prepare for the Future

Just because you aren't in a management position now, doesn't mean you shouldn't study their roles and responsibilities to educate yourself on what they do. The phrase 'fake it, to you make it' applies perfectly in this situation. You can easily start working on a management characteristic in your current role, for example you can ask your boss if you can help them do the budgeting, and start developing financial skills.

There are dozens of strategies that will prepare you for when a great opportunity arises.

*** From Good to Great

As I said earlier, a lot of people have challenging relationships with their managers. So wouldn't it be great if you could learn from their mistakes and study the characteristics of how to be a successful manager?

That means you don't have to start from 'bad' and can go from 'good' to 'great' throughout your career.

Plus, great managers create high performance teams and businesses and who wouldn't want to work with them or be one of them?

Feel confident in knowing you can become a manger, and build your executive experience in your current role by using the above techniques and other proven strategies. Develop a plan so when the next promotion opportunity arises you're prepared and ready to take the leap from a job into a career.