In most jobs, the natural upward career path means moving into a management role—but not every personality is cut out for managing others. It's critical for business leaders to identify the right employees to promote. However, it’s equally important for employees to self-assess and be honest if they don’t think they’re management material.
If you’re offered a promotion to lead your team, take a step back and consider whether you’re truly suited for this role. To help you, consider these clear signs listed by Forbes Coaches Council members that show you’re ready to take on management responsibilities.
1. You Know There Are Particular Skills Required For Leadership
Being mindful of your own skills to be able to transition to a leader is critical. People can be successful as an individual contributor, but moving into a leadership role when certain skills are not there will lead to many difficulties. It is important to be humble enough to know to decline the promotion if you are not ready. “Every employee rises to the level of his own incompetence." - Carlos Davidovich, Optimum Talent
2. You Care More About Other People's Success Than Getting Credit
Leadership roles today are unfortunately appealing for the wrong reasons. Many desire these roles because of status, money, and power, which of course have nothing to do with effective leadership. Alternatively, true leaders have an innate desire to play an active part in the success of others that transcends the needs of their ego. If this feels like you, then I'd say that leadership is your path. - Jamelle Lindo, PARADIGM People Development
3. You Are Committed To Doing What It Takes To Succeed As A Manager
Accept the role if you are committed to doing what it takes to succeed and have an impact in that management role. Most aspects of being an exceptional manager are skills that are learnable. Key success drivers, such as strategic big picture thinking, team engagement, stakeholder influence, communication, and self-management are behaviors you can excel at if you are willing to put in the work. - Shefali Raina, Alpha Lane Partners
4. You're Willing To Give Up Your Day-To-Day Operational Tasks
When you love your daily operational tasks, moving into a managerial position might mean resigning from part of it. Is it OK for you that, in the end, you would be doing things connected more with serving your team? If it makes you excited, go for the promotion! The missing skills can be taught. - Inga Bielińska, Inga Bielinska Coaching Consulting Mentoring
5. You Embrace Uncertainty, Ambiguity, Volatility, And Vulnerability
High-performing leaders are found in personality orientations. The difference between success and failure in leadership is a desire and ability to embrace uncertainty, ambiguity, volatility, and vulnerability. If the idea of these make your stomach turn, now might not be the time. If they excite you, you may be ready for leadership. Be sure to work on development in these areas to ensure success. - Jenn Lofgren, Incito Executive & Leadership Development
6. You Can Influence Your Team, Title Or Not
The biggest job of leaders is influencing their team to work toward a common vision and goals. Having people happily take on the tasks with strong motivation always brings about the best in them and hence the best business results. So if one often gets things done by having others follow and trust their leaders, even if they don’t carry authority, they have the potential to make a great leader. - Amy Nguyen, Happiness Infinity LLC
7. You Enjoy Teaching Others
The best managers are great teachers. Especially with newer employees, growth, development, and mentorship all feed better performance—so if you help your team succeed, you'll succeed. Great teachers are also great learners, which allows you to listen closely to your team's ideas and create new approaches together. So, do you like to teach? Are you a good listener? You might make a great manager. - Aric Wood, XPLANE
8. You Want To Help Others Develop And Grow
Becoming a manager requires shifting your mindset from, "what's in it for me" to "what's in it for others." Your job now becomes developing the ability in others to succeed in their role. You know you are ready to be a manager when your thinking is focused on others, and your words are all about inspiring and encouraging others to make decisions and take ownership of their actions. - Mirella De Civita, Ph.D., PCC, MCEC, Papillon MDC Inc.
9. You're Comfortable With Conflict
Leaders must be willing to have a crucial conversation that might feel like conflict, so assess your comfort with dealing with tough conversations. Leaders need to be comfortable to clearly define targets, hold accountability and ensure congruency. When any of that causes weak knees, it often creates avoidance in leaders, which will create more conflict. Confidence is key. - Christy Geiger MCC, CPCC, Synergy Strategies Coaching & Training
10. You're Ready To Shift Your Mindset And Meet Your Team's Needs
If you're trying to decide if you really want that promotion, remember that managers must switch from having an individual contributor mindset to getting things done with and through others. To be successful, you must be ready and willing to shine a spotlight on the talents and achievements of others and remain flexible in your approach so that you can work with the needs of your team members. - Jessica Glazer, Center for Creative Leadership
11. You Accept That You Can't Please Everyone
Stepping into a managerial position means you have to lead the pack, and not everyone will agree with your choices. You have to be OK with that. Knowing what's best for the team and leading them with their best interests in mind is what will gain respect in the long run. If you tend to be a people pleaser, it will show as a sign of weakness when what they need is leadership. - Michelle Tegola, iTribe Social
12. You Already Feel Like A Leader
One sign to know if you are management material is to know that you are a leader on your existing team. If you've been a leader in contributing to the winning formulas for your company, consider that you are ready to move to the next level. It's important to know that you are a leader before taking the leap, given that management requires a lot of leadership. - Jessica Smith, JLS Vision Services, LLC.
