How to Become a Manager

Video Transcript

"Hello, I'm Debbie Benami-Rahm; a career expert with dbrcareerservices.com. Let's talk a little bit about how to become a manager. The very very first step is for you to really think about if this is for you. If you've decided you want to become a manager, then you will become a manager. Take a look at your strengths and your passions and your talents, your skills, your knowledge, your abilities and then make it known that you do absolutely want to take all of those strengths and go into a manager position. First step, have a discussion with your current manager. Ask for his or her advice. Look at him or her as a role model. Then ask them for their advice on how you should proceed now that you know you want to become a manager, what's the next step. Can they help you provide tools and resources, training and development for you? Can they send you to some workshops; internally within your organization or externally? Can they suggest a mentor or does your organization have a formal mentoring program? Then submit yourself to be a mentee and get a mentor. I have to admit, from my professional career, the mentors that I've had have really catapulted my professional abilities and I am a real proponent for getting a mentor. The next thing is to make sure that you have the ability to showcase your strengths. Ask your manager if perhaps you could represent him or her to meeting; if you could make a presentation; if you could hone your communication skills and get in front of people to show them that you have the ability to lead and to do research and to accumulate the information that's necessary to be a manager. Communication skills are absolutely the key. So good luck as you've decided to be a manager."