Have you ever found yourself oscillating between hating your superiors and wishing you were in charge? Many of the things you can’t stand about your boss are the very skills it takes to be one.
This is an article I had written for a business publication a while back, but I found myself coming to the same conclusions as a member of a roller derby league and as a volunteer for educational organizations.
Have you ever heard yourself saying, "This guy is an IDIOT! How could he be my boss when he doesn't even have half the skill I do? I could do his job better; why aren't I running this department?" Here's why.
1. You don’t play politics
Why does one employee get the same compliment for a mediocre job as another employee for an outstanding one? Maybe the boss knows that this mediocre employee needs to feel appreciated, or not only will his mediocre performance become terrible, he'll also be a general pain and make life unpleasant for other outstanding employees. Seemingly inexplicable management decisions sometimes have reasons you just can't see from your vantage point. When management's priorities don't align with yours, it's dismissed and disdained as "office politics."
2. You refuse to make sacrifices
Juggling the needs and priorities of your staff and the business means making sacrifices. Sometimes one option jumps out at you as being the best one, but sometimes there is no clear best option, and you're stuck shooting down a great idea for one that's only marginally better/cheaper/easier. If you've ever been accused of procrastination, you likely have difficulty making decisions that aren't clear-cut.
3. You pay great attention to detail
Attention to detail is a great attribute if you're a designer, programmer, instructor, analyst, etc. But as someone charged with the overall success of an operation or project, you'll need to keep your head out of the details and keep an eye on the big picture. It's near impossible to do both effectively at the same time.
4. You hate paperwork
Managers spend anywhere from 30 to 85 percent of their day with various forms of paperwork. Status reports, budget reports, project plans, performance reviews... the list is endless. Sounds exciting, no?
5. You refuse to take heat for others' mistakes
If you think it's unfair that your boss occasionally gets credit for your accomplishments, consider that they will just as often be blamed for your mistakes. Be prepared to take responsibility not only for your own screw ups, but for all the screw ups of everyone you supervise.
6. You don't like to "schmooze"
It's all about relationships. As someone who will spend a lot of your time smoothing things over with customers, upper management, and your own staff, it behooves you to be friendly and find some common ground with everyone. That means getting along with, and even better, identifying with, people you don't like. This is a great idea no matter what your position in an organization, but it is especially important for managers.
7. You're a realist
Have you ever seen a leader stand up in front of a group of over-worked, exhausted, disappointed, jaded employees and tell them things were going to turn around, and they'll look back and feel extraordinary pride at all they've accomplished? Did you think to yourself, "What a load of crap"? I'll bet somewhere, deep down, even though you were mildly insulted, you were probably just a wee bit inspired. The two worst things a manager can do in times of low morale are 1) nothing, and 2) perpetuate the situation by painting as bleak a picture as everyone else already has. Unless a project is completely irreparable, someone must be forever the optimist and stubbornly point to a future where everything turns out great, as unrealistic as it may seem at the time. That's the manager's job. Figuring out the details of HOW to get to that sunny future is your job, which you're more likely to do if you have the encouragement and support of your manager.
8. You hate meetings
Whether you currently attend one meeting a month or three a day, you will find yourself attending at least twice as many as a manager. And, you'll have to run many of them, which means that when you're not actually in a meeting, you're probably preparing for one.
9. You don't like public speaking
Most managers have to give presentations regularly, if not formally, then informally in the form of status updates to the rest of the company, or even just running meetings for one's own staff. If the thought of standing up and speaking in front of a room full of people makes you nauseous, you'll want to work on it before vying for that promotion.
10. Neck tie = Noose
Appearances always matter, though in some situations more than others. Companies that have casual dress codes tend to hold managers to stricter standards, even if it's not explicitly stated. As a manager you're more likely to be client-facing at least occasionally, which means the clothes you wear and your overall appearance are for the benefit of others, not just yourself.
On the plus side...
10 Reasons You Didn't Want to Be One Anyway
- You don't play politics
- You refuse to make sacrifices
- You pay great attention to detail
- You hate paperwork
- You refuse to take heat for others' mistakes
- You don't like to "shmooze"
- You're a realist
- You hate meetings
- You don't like public speaking
- Neck tie = Noose
Sour grapes? Not necessarily. Think about it. You likely wear at least some of these attributes as a badge of honor, or at least as an integral part of your personal identity. Would you really be happy in a position where you were forced to change aspects of your personality in order to be successful?
"Successful" and "happy" are not the same thing.
It's a shame that at so many organizations, the only way to move into a higher salary bracket is to be promoted to supervisor or manager. The good news that while rare, there are companies that know that management is just another skill, and not necessarily one that's intrinsically worth more than the skills you have. If you're truly underpaid and under-appreciated, consider making a case for a raise or promotion based on the skills that you do have.
If you can demonstrate that your value to the organization is greater than what it would cost them to keep you happy, it's unlikely you'll be turned down. And if you can't demonstrate that you're worth more to the organization than your current salary, maybe it's time to figure why.
In the meantime, the next time you find yourself frustrated with a boss who seems disconnected, consider the list above and ask yourself if you'd really fare much better in their shoes.
