For many people, getting a management role seems like the most obvious option in climbing their career ladder. While it’s true that nobody aspires to work at an entry-level job for the rest of their lives, the truth is that a leadership role isn’t for everyone.
No, I don’t mean that you have to be born with it.
Having a leadership role means long hours, more responsibility, more stress, and office politics. It may not fit in with the rest of your life, as management roles often require the employees to be on call after hours, and it could mean having to hob-nob with people – and if you’re the quiet type who likes to put his or her nose to the grindstone and get the work done, this activity can be less than desirable.
Some people don’t expect the increase in workload, and for others, the job title and the slight raise in pay are not enough to compensate for all the extra work.
Today, we cover what aspiring leaders or employees on the brink of getting promoted into a management role should consider before accepting a management or boss position.
5 Critical Questions to Ponder before Accepting a Leadership Role
- What will your new workload will look like?
Ask yourself if you can handle the expected workload, and then some. Never assume that the job description on paper is a complete list of responsibilities. Managers and executives often have tons of ad-hoc responsibilities.
If you are barely able to juggle everything now, you may not be ready for the extra responsibility that a management position brings.
- Are you ready to sacrifice your personal time?
Excited to run out of the office at 5 PM? Keep in mind that as a manager, you may not be able to do this anymore. If you cherish and protect your family and personal time, management may not be the position for you, either. On the other hand, if you are young and single, now might be a good time to spend more time on your career.
Yes, it’s true that many managers can juggle a family and career successfully but many of them will tell you that it’s not easy. They still sacrifice a huge chunk of their time to do the things they want to do. For instance, instead of sleeping in after a long day at work, some managers will take this time to play with the kids or have a date night with their spouse.
- Are you a good motivator?
Good leaders are great motivators. They inspire their team to do their very best and to shoot beyond what they think they can achieve. If you think you can do this, you might be a good manager.
But if all you can do is whine, complain, and point out other people’s mistakes, then it might be hard for you to provide the guidance a team expects from you.
- Are you willing to take the blame?
Leaders share the credit, and take the blame if a project goes south. After all, you are the one giving all the approvals, and it is your responsibility to know everything that is going on under your nose. Good leaders never throw their staff under the bus.
- Can you make the tough decisions when it’s needed?
If you’re the type that’s indecisive and stresses out over everyday decisions, you might not be suited to a management role.
Can you fire someone you previously enjoyed spending time with?
Can you cut a project short, even though it was your idea?
Managers and leaders make tough choices every day that affect not only them, but the company and the lives of their staff. Make sure you can live with this before you accept a management position.
Is it Right for You?
As we covered in the introduction, not everyone is meant to be a leader. You need a combination of guts, persistence, and will power to be an effective leader. It also comes with sacrifices, and some perks.
So before you get that new business card printed up, think about what you want from your career – and your life. Is this really what you want? Or are you just taking this role because it’s the logical choice up?