Do you want to be a manager?
You were a great problem solver, you delivered great results at work, and you even helped other juniors get up to speed quickly. You got noticed, and your boss rewards you with a promotion offer to become a Team Leader. You will instantly see:
- A 50% raise in salary
- More attractive bonus scheme, more benefits thanks to the higher rank - insurance, vacation days, etc.
- Higher social status and better career opportunities
Most people jump on the opportunity instantly
But it should not be decided that fast! Taking on the Manager role will introduce so much more pressure, ambiguity, responsibilities, and complexity into your life. The extrinsic rewards mentioned above may get you to start, but they are not sustainable enough to keep you going in the long term. And make no mistake - it will be a long journey - getting from a newbie to a good manager.
Instead, slow down and ask yourself these three questions
- Are you genuinely excited about helping other adults grow and excel at work?
- Are you genuinely excited about making bigger impacts and driving the organization forward on its missions?
- Are you genuinely excited about growing your own interpersonal skills?
It’s totally possible (and fine!) that you will say “No” to all three of the questions above. There is absolutely nothing wrong with focusing only on your craft - either programming, music, drawing, or Excel-fu. Become an Expert! Get super good at your craft, the money will still come to you.
But if you should only make the leap to become a manager if you answer Yes to at least 2 of the 3 questions.
Otherwise, you’re swimming against the current.
