Congratulations on your promotion. You might be wondering where you go from here. You are about to make one of the most difficult transitions there is. Making the transition from worker to manager is difficult at the best of times and it can be even more difficult if you are being promoted within the same department or peer group. One week you’re a co-worker going out for drinks after work and socializing on weekends. The following week you’re their boss. You now have a position of authority to uphold. The things that helped you get noticed within the department or on the shop floor are important. There’s no question you’ll need to bring those qualities with you as you take on your new role.

What makes someone promotable? Do automotive technicians make the best service managers? Do great athletes have what it takes to be a winning coach? Just because people are good at what they do – it doesn’t mean they will be good at managing or leading someone else. Not everyone has what it takes to manage or lead. Managing or leading is about people. If you don’t like being around people and helping them to be successful – then you are going to be a lousy manager. Managing is about giving your staff the tools they’ll need to perform their tasks on time and on budget.

If you had to sit down and write out a job description for a manager – what kinds of things would you put on that list? Managers assign tasks, monitor performance, schedule hours, discipline, input payroll information and build collaborative teams just to name a few. What skills would managers need to be able to execute everything on that list? Managers must be patient, open-minded, have good communication skills, be flexible, show empathy and are able to listen without interrupting. Which ones are you good at – which ones will you have to learn? You get to decide what kind of manager or leader you want to be. Choose wisely.

Copyright (c) 2019. Brian Smith- Power Link Dynamics. Not to be reproduced without permission. To find out more about Brian and what he can do for you and your organization visit: https://briansmithpld.com or email Brian – brian@briansmithpld.com