Key Highlights
Wondering how to become a manager? You’ll need leadership skills, problem-solving ability, decision-making skills, and people-management capabilities to lead teams effectively.
Becoming a manager means you must be able to show leadership abilities, have experience in the right areas, have management skills, and know the business objectives.
It is not mandatory for you to have a previous background in management or even an MBA in order to become a manager.
In this blog, you’ll learn how to become a manager through seven practical steps, including developing essential skills, gaining leadership experience, preparing for management opportunities, and avoiding common career mistakes.
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What Does a Manager Do?
A manager is someone whose job is to ensure that his or her team is able to achieve the goals of the organisation.
Being a manager goes beyond simply assigning tasks to people or only making sure the targets are achieved. Managers are team leaders who set priorities, support their employees when they have some obstacles, solve their issues, make important decisions related to their teams, and communicate information across the organisation.
The exact responsibilities of managers vary depending on the field and the type of manager one is. Like a frontline manager would likely concentrate more on how his team performs, whereas an upper-level manager would probably have a lot of budget and strategic planning on hand.
Core Responsibilities of a Manager
A manager's responsibilities include:
They are also responsible for the communication with senior leaders and team members.
Do read: Business Continuity Management: Process and Importance
Qualifications Needed to Become a Manager
The qualification is separate for different organisations, industries, seniorities, and roles. There isn't one single qualification that meets every requirement of a manager. And there is no such mandate as to be only a management graduate.
Depending on the role, employers may accept backgrounds in engineering, commerce, science, arts, technology, finance, marketing, or another relevant discipline. For example, a tech company will require an engineering graduate whereas for a bank a candidate with finance background will be needed. The specific job description remains the deciding factor.
Experience is considered an important deciding factor.
Management degree and post-graduate education are useful for people aiming at a management career. However, a management education is not always required for management professionals. Possible academic areas include business administration, management, finance, marketing, operations, human resources management, and others.
Short-term management programmes and professional certifications can help you build specific capabilities in areas such as people management, project management, leadership, finance, or business strategy.
Do You Need an MBA to Become a Manager?
No, an MBA isn't a universal requirement for becoming a manager. It can be useful when you're targeting roles that value advanced business knowledge, strategic thinking, financial understanding, or broader leadership preparation.
Your experience still matters. If you already have strong results and leadership exposure, an MBA isn't necessarily the missing piece in your career plan.
Do read: Situational Leadership: Model, Styles & Examples Guide
7 Steps to Become a Manager
There isn't a single way for everyone. You may reach your destination through internal promotions or apply to other organisation and get a hike in your job role. Or you gradually take on leadership responsibilities until you're ready and you are promoted based on your capabilities
These 7 steps provide you with a practical idea of reaching your goal:
1. Excel in Your Current Role
Start with your current work responsibilities. When you consistently perform at your best and take on responsibilities, you will gain trust and confidence. Just don't be engulfed only in completing tasks. Make sure to track results and document your progress on successful projects, outcomes, and situations where you solved difficult problems.
2. Take on Leadership Opportunities
Don't wait for someone to hand you a responsibility.
Showing ownership of work is one of the leadership qualities. Look for opportunities to coordinate people, lead a project, mentor a colleague, or take charge of a team initiative.
Must read: What Is Servant Leadership? Meaning, Benefits & Examples
3. Develop Essential Management Skills
Management requires a different skill set from individual contribution. You might be excellent at your technical work and still need to strengthen your communication, delegation, or conflict-resolution skills before managing a team.
Focus on skills such as:
Communication
Leadership
Delegation
Decision-making
Problem-solving
Conflict resolution
Emotional intelligence
Coaching and mentoring
Time management
Strategic thinking
4. Understand the Business Beyond Your Own Role
It is important for managers to become the link between various departments in the company. You should know how your team impacts the organisation’s profitability, service to customers, efficiency, quality, or other aspects of business. Also, you have to know the KPIs, how your team impacts the metrics, and what success looks like in your company.
After you understand what is important and how your work impacts the organisation, it will be easier for you to link your activities with strategic objectives.
5. Seek Feedback, Mentorship and Development
Find out from your manager what you need to prove yourself before becoming a manager. This way, you may discover a personal weakness that you were not aware of.
You may also receive advice from managers who have worked for a long time in this field. They will tell you how to deal with various situations related to managing employees.
Do not be afraid to learn things on your own.
Also read: What Makes a Good Leader? 10 Essential Qualities and Skills
6. Communicate Your Management Career Goals
Your manager won't be able to help you with your career objective if they don't know what it is. Let them know that you would like to take on more management roles and find out what kind of experience or skills you would need to make yourself a better candidate.
This discussion will not be an attempt to push your way into a promotion. Rather, this is a way to set up realistic plans of development.
7. Apply for Management Opportunities
When you feel ready, look into internal and external management roles. Make sure to read the job posting thoroughly and see whether you meet the criteria based on your own experience.
Just because you have not had a formal management role does not mean that you should undervalue what you have done in terms of leading people and making decisions.
Sometimes, there is little we can do about who gets hired. There is plenty we can do about showing our readiness.
Ready to move beyond your current role and take on broader business responsibilities? Explore the IIM Bangalore Young Leaders Programme (YLP) to strengthen your skills in strategy, finance, operations, people management, and leadership.
