Struggling to find a way into management

[Networkgeek]

Hi folks

I'm after a bit of advice from you lot.

Back at the tail end of last year, I started a new job. All is going well, I really like the company so I have no interest in leaving. But, I'm not really that interested in what I do anymore, truth be told, I find it a bit dull. I thought a new job would reignite my love, but it hasn't at all.

I really want to come away from 'the tools' (so to speak) and get into management this year.

I don't want to get any more technical (already senior-level), mainly because I don't enjoy spending time studying outside of work anymore. I know management won't be a walk in the park, but I think having a new challenge would kick me up the arse a bit.

If you were in your probation period, would you mention this in your 1-1? In my head, it shows that I'm ambitious, but I worry it might come across differently.

I'd like to know your thoughts on this.

Thanks all
NG

[Tom8]

Is the organisation big enough to move to a management position? if so then absolutely, let them know your ambition. Ask what you need to do to achieve it and ask what they think you need in order to be considered suitable.

[Piersman2]

One does not find a way into management, management finds a way to absorb you. Run, run for your independence and own sanity.

[Networkgeek]

Tom8 said:

Is the organisation big enough to move to a management position? if so then absolutely, let them know your ambition. Ask what you need to do to achieve it and ask what they think you need in order to be considered suitable.

Yeah, it's a big company, and the area I'm in is rapidly growing.

I just don't want to shoot myself in the foot by coming across as a job hopper.

Thanks for the advice

[Countdown]

What is it about "Management" that attracts you?

[Networkgeek]

Countdown said:

What is it about "Management" that attracts you?

Good question.

I've worked in IT for over a decade now and I've seen a lot of very technical people being promoted into management, which hasn't always been a good move for them. I watched them struggle with things I find easy, such as interpersonal skills, communication, planning workloads etc.

It isn't a power trip for me, I've seen first-hand how bad managers can be, so I'm fully aware of what not to be like. If that make sense?

[Countdown]

Networkgeek said:

Good question.

I've worked in IT for over a decade now and I've seen a lot of very technical people being promoted into management, which hasn't always been a good move for them. I watched them struggle with things I find easy, such as interpersonal skills, communication, planning workloads etc.

It isn't a power trip for me, I've seen first-hand how bad managers can be, so I'm fully aware of what not to be like. If that make sense?

I think that IS the way it generally works. When you become quite experienced in a certain field you get promoted to managing people who are working in that specific. field. You need to have at least a basic (and ideally a detailed) understanding of what your direct reports do to make sure you can manage them.

ideally the company recognises that although new managers might be excellent technically they might not have the first idea of managing other people. IME a lot of companies have management development programmes to try and address that issue and to help managers become better.

[C5_Steve]

Definitely bring it up in your next 1:1. As a people manager for many years, having an individual who comes to a 1:1 prepared to discuss their aspirations and actually has a plan on how to achieve them is a dream

Explain to your boss that you'd like to move into a management position as you feel you have x/y/z skills that would add whatever value you think they would to the business by being in a management position. Discuss the time frame you'd like to achieve this in and what you feel are the areas you might need support in to develop further to perform in this role based on your understanding on it.

Now the important part (and maybe uncomfortable): Ask your manager what their thoughts are on this, specifically what they feel are you're strengths/development opportunities and do they feel this time scale is reasonable or not.

At the end of your 1:1 you should ideally be leaving with a development plan of what you would like to achieve and by when. You can then use this as a template to discuss at future performance reviews.

If your boss is a half-decent manager then they'll support you in achieving this by making sure you have the right skills for any opportunity that comes up. There may be external factors such as position availability that may affect the timeline but they should help to make sure you're ready when the opportunity arises. If they're not such a great manager then having a development plan helps you to hold them accountable to what they've committed to.

Hope that helps.

[Knoxville2410]

I manage a team of 40 which has grown from 7 over 6-7 years. I now directly line manage some managers who have team leaders/staff, as well as managing some individual contributors.

It's not all its cracked up to be! When things go well it's okay, but when SHTF, it's a royal pain in the ass.

I'm senior in my organisation so it probably wouldn't be as bad as middle management. I guess it just depends what you want to get out of it.

Happy to answer any questions.

[Terminator X]

Networkgeek said:

Hi folks

I'm after a bit of advice from you lot.

Back at the tail end of last year, I started a new job. All is going well, I really like the company so I have no interest in leaving. But, I'm not really that interested in what I do anymore, truth be told, I find it a bit dull. I thought a new job would reignite my love, but it hasn't at all.

I really want to come away from 'the tools' (so to speak) and get into management this year.

I don't want to get any more technical (already senior-level), mainly because I don't enjoy spending time studying outside of work anymore. I know management won't be a walk in the park, but I think having a new challenge would kick me up the arse a bit.

If you were in your probation period, would you mention this in your 1-1? In my head, it shows that I'm ambitious, but I worry it might come across differently.

I'd like to know your thoughts on this.

Thanks all
NG

Imho if you want promotion you need to be doing the job above you then promotion becomes a "no brainer". Just do what your Boss does day to day.

TX.

[deja.vu]

Countdown said:

What is it about "Management" that attracts you?

This is really really important.
Don’t assume that because you can do, that you can manage.
Don’t assume management earn more than the people they manage .
Go into management because you have a passion for helping people evolve and getting the most from them, not because you blindly believe it’s a crareer progression, it isn’t necessarily.


If I earned what my manage did, I’d quit.

[Countdown]

Management gives you a lot more control but also a lot more responsibility. The main attraction for me apart from more money was more interesting work.

[deja.vu]

Countdown said:

Management gives you a lot more control but also a lot more responsibility. The main attraction for me apart from more money was more interesting work.

In my world it gives less control and less money.
Every environment is different.

[Countdown]

deja.vu said:

In my world it gives less control and less money.
Every environment is different.

What’s the attraction to move into management in your industry?

[sociopath]

Become st at your job and you'll be promoted to your natural level of incompetence, voilà you're in management

[wiggy001]

sociopath said:

Become st at your job and you'll be promoted to your natural level of incompetence, voilà you're in management

I’ve heard this before but have to say it is ringing very true at the moment, to the point I’ve just told my boss that I don’t want to take over from him when he leaves as I like my reputation of “getting st done” and don’t want my team questioning what I actually do each day.

[sociopath]

wiggy001 said:

sociopath said:

Become st at your job and you'll be promoted to your natural level of incompetence, voilà you're in management

I’ve heard this before but have to say it is ringing very true at the moment, to the point I’ve just told my boss that I don’t want to take over from him when he leaves as I like my reputation of “getting st done” and don’t want my team questioning what I actually do each day.

One of the reasons I went into IT contracting, so I could avoid it. Of course I then ended up in interim CIO and CTO roles, so the ultimate painful management role - responsibility without authority

(this may be slightly tongue in cheek, but only slightly)

[Marc p]

Networkgeek said:

Countdown said:

What is it about "Management" that attracts you?

Good question.

I've worked in IT for over a decade now and I've seen a lot of very technical people being promoted into management, which hasn't always been a good move for them. I watched them struggle with things I find easy, such as interpersonal skills, communication, planning workloads etc.

It isn't a power trip for me, I've seen first-hand how bad managers can be, so I'm fully aware of what not to be like. If that make sense?

I worked in a technical role in IT for many years, and always tried to move up but the path is slow, tedious and most of the time the pay increases aren’t great either.
So I made a lateral move into sales/account management and found it to be a fantastic career choice that also tripled my income within a year.

I’m not what you’d call a ‘people person’, more introvert than extrovert and have no natural sales ability. However, as I had the technical knowledge, didn’t just spout standard salesman rubbish and genuinely looked for the best solutions, my customers always trusted me and I thrived at it.

So if you have good people skills, combined with technical knowledge, I’d definitely give sales a look.

[Puzzles]

Knoxville2410 said:

I'm senior in my organisation so it probably wouldn't be as bad as middle management. I guess it just depends what you want to get out of it.

Ha. Middle management is the worst position to be in. Stuck in the middle with people moaning at both ends and you’ve no real power to do anything about it.

[bunchofkeys]

Networkgeek said:

Countdown said:

What is it about "Management" that attracts you?

Good question.

I've worked in IT for over a decade now and I've seen a lot of very technical people being promoted into management, which hasn't always been a good move for them. I watched them struggle with things I find easy, such as interpersonal skills, communication, planning workloads etc.

It isn't a power trip for me, I've seen first-hand how bad managers can be, so I'm fully aware of what not to be like. If that make sense?

Did you partake in any managerial courses, be it practical or paperwork?
If so, what would you recommend?