As people mature and start to learn more about themselves, it becomes clearer what they want to do with their life as far as their career goes. Sometimes it’s a relatively easy transition from where they currently are, whereas other times it’s a pretty big jump with a number of steps in between.
If you’ve decided to pursue your online MBA degree so you can go on and have a job in a management position, such as project management, energy management, or construction management, then you are in for a challenging yet rewarding career. While your online MBA program will certainly teach you what you need to know about the position and the theory behind it, it’s up to you to figure out if you’re ready to be a leader in the workplace.
Management Positions Can Be a Reality Check
So many people set a goal of becoming management someday, and while it doesn’t always happen for everyone, those who do manage to succeed may find themselves surprised at what it includes. Everyone knows that as a manager you’ll get that pay raise you’ve been dreaming of, and you’ll be responsible for leading a team. You get to be a boss and give the orders, rather than take them.
While this may sound great, the problem is that many enter into these positions ill-prepared and end up feeling quite overwhelmed by the responsibility. Not only do you need to feel comfortable leading and directing staff, you also need to be aware of what your role is and the goals of the company. What are you leading staff towards?
Questions You Can Ponder
As you work towards completing your degree, or perhaps you’re already in the workforce and are preparing yourself for that management position, there are some questions you can ask yourself. These will help you to figure out how prepared you are and what you still need to work on.
A top question is about your communication skills. As a manager, your communication skills need to be nothing less than perfect. You need to be able to listen, coach, motivate and, unfortunately, discipline when the situation calls for it.
People often assume a manager works from some “to do” list each day, this couldn’t be more false. A manager needs to be flexible and work with the current situation, obstacles, tasks, and goals. Because these are always changing, a manager needs to be flexible.
Another skill that you need to possess as a manager is the ability to know when, what, and to whom to delegate tasks. Just because you’re a manager, it doesn’t mean you’re able to do everything yourself. This is why you have a team working with you.
And, speaking of teams, managers need to have the ability to put teams together and hire the appropriate staff to get the job done. This takes foresight and a clear understanding of what is needed in an employee.
It’s Not an Overnight Process
Even with a degree under your belt that technically prepares you for a management position, there is still a lot to learn before people can feel comfortable and are ready to step into that management role.
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