Yes, you might have worked like blazes to be noticed. Or you might have worked like blazes because you are proud of what you do and want the product or service to be a huge success.
That doesn’t make you management material. That doesn’t deserve a promotion. It does, however, deserve a raise!
Answer the following checklist and see how you measure up.
| Worker | Manager | ||
| 1. | I enjoy thinking strategically about how a specific task can be done more efficiently | yes | no |
| 2. | I enjoy thinking strategically about how resources within the company could be better applied | no | yes |
| 3. | I love sitting down to a task and doing it to the best of my ability until it is finished. | yes | no |
| 4. | I find it easy to delegate tasks to other people. | no | yes |
| 5. | Conflict is something I actively avoid. | yes | no |
| 6. | I like giving guidance to others in what they should do. | no | yes |
| 7. | I give my all during working hours, but that is usually where it ends. | yes | no |
| 8. | I see the value of networking with other roleplayers and stakeholders and don’t mind doing it to achieve my goals. | no | yes |
| 9. | I am prepared to take full responsibility – the buck stops with me. | no | yes |
| 10. | My working day is pretty regulated – I go to work at a set time, have lunch and/or tea at a set time, and leave work at a set time. | yes | no |
| 11. | I know I am not supposed to bring my problems to work, but sometimes it just happens. | yes | no |
| 12. | It is easy for me to motivate others and get them working as a team. | no | yes |
| 13. | I find it exciting to learn new skills, such a presentation skills and setting budgets for a project. | no | yes |
| 14. | Although no likes disciplining a co-worker, I can do it without taking what happens personally. | no | yes |
| 15. | I believe the most important thing is for everyone to be friends. | yes | no |
Okay, it is perfectly true that the checklist is a bit simplistic. A great worker might share some of the characteristics found in a great manager, and a weak or young manager might share some of the characteristics found in a worker – but you get the idea.
You need to think carefully about the road ahead. If you have the desire to lead others, and the skills to do it well (even if those skills have not been fully developed yet) – by all means: ask for that promotion!
If you are not sure that would be a great cup of tea for you, then rather ask for a raise, or ask for more specialised training in your area of expertise, or consider a horizontal move (e.g. to another company doing a similar type of work, but with other applications).
About the author
Lalien Cilliers. Project Manager. Content Development Manager. eLearning Developer & ICT Trainer [MIITP]. Website creator and social media pager. Helping others learn tough stuff the easy way. Eternally curious. Author of: ♦ 9 things you should know … if you ever want to become a manager: The New Manager series and ♦ A Guy’s Guide: New Home: How to Find and Furnish Your Own Place
