Whereas most motivated workers wish to transfer into new roles with higher obligations, some take it a step additional: They want to be acknowledged as management materials. They’re pushed and wish to be thought-about for a promotion and transfer up within the firm, however bosses are sometimes stretched skinny and overlook budding expertise.
Since analysis reveals that employees will keep longer at firms which put money into their development, it’s a vital matter for employers in addition to workers. So, what are some methods workers can train to be well-positioned for future management roles?
1. Strengthen the basics
Earlier than you discuss to your boss a couple of management position, you wish to be sure you’re in good stead on the firm. “It’s essential to not overlook the very fundamentals of displaying up on time, doing all your job, doing it effectively and never gossiping,” says Jennifer Chang, a Society for Human Useful resource Administration Licensed Skilled (SHRM-CP) with a decade of human assets expertise. She advises that you simply domesticate a popularity for being persistently ready, whether or not for conferences or simply fulfilling day by day work expectations.
One other key basic is to study the important thing gamers within the firm and what they do. This may assist fine-tune your total grasp of the enterprise. Chang, who additionally serves as a human assets information adviser at SHRM, says this ensures you’ll be able to hit the bottom working must you be tapped to fill a management position.
2. Act like a frontrunner already
That outdated saying “gown for the place you need, not the place you’ve” is true, but it surely’s not the entire story, Chang says. “Past bodily gown, it’s best to current a picture of management readiness… [Act] such as you would wish to act in a extra senior position,” she says.
This implies perfecting management traits like curiosity, proactiveness, strategic considering, empathy and kindness, Chang notes. Apply proudly owning your work, together with the errors. “It’s essential to have the ability to say, ‘I tousled,’” she says. “Be trustworthy and direct about it, relatively than blaming or throwing folks underneath the bus or hiding it.” It’s a possibility to showcase problem-solving expertise by demonstrating you may repair points so that they don’t occur once more.
“Not solely do you must have the abilities to handle a course of or a group, however you additionally need to have the kindness and the empathy to have interaction with the workforce and handle their teammates,” she says.
3. Enhance your visibility
“I feel networking and volunteering are actually essential,” Chang emphasizes. She suggests volunteering for in-person assignments, if potential, or selecting to work extra continuously on the workplace, for those who’re hybrid.
To face out, search for initiatives which might be cross-functional so that you get to know different gamers throughout the group. Requesting stretch assignments or providing to assist others with duties may even achieve you floor, Chang says. Total, be that one that asks their supervisor what the wants are to assist the group operate extra seamlessly.
Regardless of the wealth of remote-enabling expertise, take into consideration going into the workplace extra, if potential. “It’s good to see folks in particular person,” Chang says, noting that it is perhaps a great way to get face time with decision-makers. There’s additionally the chance of spontaneously doing lunch with others and catching up over espresso.
In distinction, constructing wholesome work relationships remotely, although doable, requires intentionality. “It’s straightforward to get siloed in your individual little world,” she says. In case your job is 100% distant, volunteering for additional work and stretch assignments is certainly worthwhile to construct up your popularity as a motivated worker.
4. Domesticate a constructive relationship along with your boss
With the intention to construct rapport, ask your boss to have espresso or lunch with you—even for those who really feel intimidated. This demonstrates a willingness to boldly step out and interact with superiors, relatively than sitting again, ready to be drawn out, Chang says. In spite of everything, leaders wish to see their workers engaged and .
To strategically leverage a espresso meetup along with your boss, Chang says to point out up with a gap complimentary nod to a current work accomplishment of theirs earlier than launching into three to 5 questions masking their profession path and what excites them concerning the enterprise. This informal time will create a constructive impression and put you in your boss’s radar. If you’re seeking to transfer up, it’s doubtless your intentional outreach shall be remembered.
When you and your boss are in separate places and never prone to meet in particular person quickly, you may carry up these factors in a recurrently scheduled 1:1 assembly or request a gathering over Slack or e-mail to catch up.
5. Have a direct dialog a couple of management position
When you’re excelling at work and demonstrating management qualities and but your boss doesn’t advocate you for a management place (even after your meetup), it’s time to request a proper assembly to convey your curiosity.
Chang emphasizes that it’s OK to advocate for your self and ask for what you need. In fact, having your work and character communicate for itself is great, however your boss may actually suppose you’re content material the place you’re at. “It’s OK to say, ‘Hey, I’m concerned about XYZ,’ or, ‘I’d like this chance,’” she says.
Chang advises to totally put together for this assembly to debate a management position. Whether or not assembly in particular person or remotely, you should definitely gown professionally and have an abundance of information factors in your again pocket which spotlight your office contributions. “Collect collectively an inventory of the entire accomplishments that you simply’ve had over your tenure with the corporate, the entire initiatives that you simply’ve contributed to and the way they’ve improved effectivity,” she says, by means of instance.
Present ardour for the corporate and want to tackle extra accountability. Then, pivot to convey steps you’ve taken to realize management capabilities, she counsels. Utilizing your ready factors, clarify the varied methods you’ve achieved success and benefited the corporate.
“Join your profession ambitions with contributions to the corporate and enthusiasm for the work they’re doing. I feel that’s key,” she says.
This text initially appeared within the Might 2025 subject of SUCCESS+ digital journal. Photograph by Jacob Lund/Shutterstock.com
