If you're not already in a management position, you may be wondering if that's the direction your career should-or could-take. On the other hand, you might not be considering such an idea, possibly because you think you're just not the "stuff" managers are made of.
Not everyone is cut out for a management role, of course, but don't be too quick to assume that this applies to you. While you're not likely to march into a company as a senior executive if you don't have the necessary experience for it, you might well be able to position yourself for a future management position by starting somewhat lower on the ladder.
A key question to be answered, then, is: Are you at least good "raw material" for management? And...how can you tell? A career coach (or in some cases, a career counselor) can work with you to help answer this question, but here's a quick "quiz" to give you a few hints:
* Do you enjoy challenges? Can you work well under pressure and handle multiple tasks simultaneously?
* Can you communicate your enthusiasm, energy and intensity to others in a way that encourages them to "buy-in" to the project or goal?
* Have you ever organized an event or project where you built consensus and obtained cooperation from people who didn't always agree with each other or weren't known for working well together?
* Can you delegate tasks effectively (i.e., without either micro-managing or going to the other extreme and "trusting" people to finish things without any checking-in at all)?
* Can you evaluate competing alternatives and decide which one to select, even if it means making tough choices?
* Do you understand how to transform vision into reality and how to plan for the future?
* Are you dedicated to completing projects at a level that meets or surpasses expectations? Do you focus strongly on keeping the promises you make and give people an early "heads-up" if that's going to be impossible?
For more serious consideration of the whole issue, you might want to sign up for a testing or assessment tool that can help you identify suitable career directions, such as the Myers Briggs Type Indicator, the Strong Interest Inventory or the Successful Career Planning online assessment.
You can also conduct independent research via the Internet, printed materials, people you know in management, and so on. For example, look at executive / management job postings online and compare the stated requirements and preferred items for each job with your own background and employment preferences. Check off the ones you already have, then evaluate those that remain. Are there any you don't meet now that you probably could with a reasonable investment of time and/or money? If so, you might want to develop a plan to achieve them, assuming the position description and work environment appeal to you-and assuming you are prepared to tackle the demands a senior management role entails.
