CAREER PROGRESSION > HOW TO BE PROMOTED AS A PEOPLE MANAGER? HOW TO LAND ON A PEOPLE MANAGER POSITION?

There is a point in your career where you need to become a people manager to keep climbing the hierarchical ladder.

You need to evolve from individual contributor to people manager to keep escalating. This leap is fascinating because to keep providing value at an accelerator pace, you need to boost your progress and impact through others; your team.

This phase of your career is so rich. You learn so much from people and feel fulfilled to help them transform into their best professional selves.

But, what are the required steps to get there? What do you need to demonstrate to your manager for them to start seeing you as a manager?

#1. Tell your manager your aspirations. Work with them to have the proper guidance on conquering that goal.

You want to make sure you know their expectations and that you are meeting those. Work with them as your closest ally.

Intelligent humans learn from their mistakes. Wise humans learn from others' mistakes.

Ruth Valverde A. Tweet

#2. Have a mentor who is already a manager you admire.

Learning the path on your own will take you at least 3X the time—leverage others’ knowledge.

Intelligent humans learn from their mistakes. Wise humans learn from others’ mistakes.

#3. Live the values of the company you work for.

Be the culture of your company. Embrace it. Study your company’s values and ensure you are highly demonstrating them.

#4. Learn about the laws of power.

Network and demonstrate your value, talent, and vision to those who take decisions. Your goals must be to show your manager, the manager’s manager, the owner, etc ALL your potential.

Build a TOP brand for yourself in the workplace, in the industry.

The next is a bit of sad advice to say, but, in the process, be strategic and do not outshine your managers, so they do not fear you as a competitor but see you as a pupil.

People have huge egos. Use that knowledge in your favor and make your boss see you as a pupil, so they want to help you succeed

#5. Execution is king; ensure you drive your projects and milestones forward.

You want to show the organization you make things happen through coordination, influencing, discipline, and measurable results.

#6. Increase your business acumen to provide your organization with the best strategies and recommendations.

This point is critical; managers not only organize, coordinate and motivate teams, but they also are strategists. To become one, you need to grow your business acumen.

The CEO is the most valuable person in the company because they understand the whole operation, from sales and product to operations.

Grow your business acumen to connect the dots, and your insights will be precious. You will become an asset everyone will want to have.

#7. Great attitude is as important as everything else

You want people to see you as a positive, motivated, and analytical player but energic enough to uplift others to create great things together for your company.
Make sure you work on your branding and likeability.
You want people to perceive you as a best-in-a-class professional. Focus on creating healthy professional relations. Be professional, kind, humble, and reachable. But never too friendly.

Suppose you have never been a manager before. In that case, it is easier to land that job (people manager) at a company that has already hired you as an individual contributor. They would already know your style, appreciate your skills, and value your talent.

However, if the current company you work for does not provide a healthy environment, opportunities are short, and you are not aligned with their culture, apply to other places.

What do you need to do to land a job as a new people manager at a new company if you have never supervised others?

#1. Read a lot about leadership, influencing, and building practical systems. Prepare yourself for the game.

Here are a few book recommendations on leadership I love:

How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie.

Full Book Summary here; How to win friends and Influence people, book Summary.

Start with Why: How great leaders inspire others to take action.

Measure what Matters by John Doerr.

Full Summary of Measure what matters book here.

#2. Look for small projects or things at work that help you build that experience as a leader, despite not having a managerial position.

For example, lead projects, or proposals, act as a mentor for more junior team members, etc.

#3. Create an outstanding pitch for the interviewers to sell them your vision as a manager.

Articulate why you want to be a manager and how you will exponentiate the value of the team through a positive and systematic leadership approach.

Talk about how you have been preparing yourself for this position through mentorship, projects, and books.

#4. Ensure to apply to companies you love and admire their culture.

You want to make sure the interviewers realize how a good fit you will be. Leaders must be the face of its companies values.

#5. Research and learn about the company's products, values, goals, and vision to use that in your favor in your company.

You want to let them know how much you know about them and how you can provide tons of value to them as a people manager.
You must demonstrate what a fan you are and how your passion, intelligence, motivation, and STRATEGY will take the team to the next level.

#6. If you are in finance and are applying to a publicly-traded company, you must read their latest annual report or 10 k to have enough business acumen.

You must do this for every interview as a finance professional if you want to join the company. For a people manager or individual contributor role.

It is a game-changer. It will give you a lot of insight to answer the questions better, they will be pleased, and it will help you a lot once you land the actual job.

Author:

Ruth Valverde A.

CAREER PROGRESSION > HOW TO BE PROMOTED AS A PEOPLE MANAGER? HOW TO LAND ON A PEOPLE MANAGER POSITION?

There is a point in your career where you need to become a people manager to keep climbing the hierarchical ladder.

You need to evolve from individual contributor to people manager to keep escalating. This leap is fascinating because to keep providing value at an accelerator pace, you need to boost your progress and impact through others; your team.

This phase of your career is so rich. You learn so much from people and feel fulfilled to help them transform into their best professional selves.

But, what are the required steps to get there? What do you need to demonstrate to your manager for them to start seeing you as a manager?

#1. Tell your manager your aspirations. Work with them to have the proper guidance on conquering that goal.

You want to make sure you know their expectations and that you are meeting those. Work with them as your closest ally.

#2. Have a mentor who is already a manager you admire.

Learning the path on your own will take you at least 3X the time—leverage others’ knowledge.

Intelligent humans learn from their mistakes. Wise humans learn from others’ mistakes.

#3. Live the values of the company you work for.

Be the culture of your company. Embrace it. Study your company’s values and ensure you are highly demonstrating them.

#4. Learn about the laws of power.

Network and demonstrate your value, talent, and vision to those who take decisions. Your goals must be to show your manager, the manager’s manager, the owner, etc ALL your potential.

Build a TOP brand for yourself in the workplace, in the industry.

The next is a bit of sad advice to say, but, in the process, be strategic and do not outshine your managers, so they do not fear you as a competitor but see you as a pupil.

People have huge egos. Use that knowledge in your favor and make your boss see you as a pupil, so they want to help you succeed

#5. Execution is king; ensure you drive your projects and milestones forward.

You want to show the organization you make things happen through coordination, influencing, discipline, and measurable results.

#6. Increase your business acumen to provide your organization with the best strategies and recommendations.

This point is critical; managers not only organize, coordinate and motivate teams, but they also are strategists. To become one, you need to grow your business acumen.

The CEO is the most valuable person in the company because they understand the whole operation, from sales and product to operations.

Grow your business acumen to connect the dots, and your insights will be precious. You will become an asset everyone will want to have.

#7. Great attitude is as important as everything else

Suppose you have never been a manager before. In that case, it is easier to land that job (people manager) at a company that has already hired you as an individual contributor. They would already know your style, appreciate your skills, and value your talent.

However, if the current company you work for does not provide a healthy environment, opportunities are short, and you are not aligned with their culture, apply to other places.

What do you need to do to land a job as a new people manager at a new company if you have never supervised others?

#1. Read a lot about leadership, influencing, and building practical systems. Prepare yourself for the game.

Here are a few book recommendations on leadership I love:

Full Book Summary here; How to win friends and Influence people, book Summary.

Start with Why: How great leaders inspire others to take action.

Measure what Matters by John Doerr.

#2. Look for small projects or things at work that help you build that experience as a leader, despite not having a managerial position.

For example, lead projects, or proposals, act as a mentor for more junior team members, etc.

#3. Create an outstanding pitch for the interviewers to sell them your vision as a manager.

Articulate why you want to be a manager and how you will exponentiate the value of the team through a positive and systematic leadership approach.

Talk about how you have been preparing yourself for this position through mentorship, projects, and books.

#4. Ensure to apply to companies you love and admire their culture.

You want to make sure the interviewers realize how a good fit you will be. Leaders must be the face of its companies values.

#5. Research and learn about the company's products, values, goals, and vision to use that in your favor in your company.

You want to let them know how much you know about them and how you can provide tons of value to them as a people manager. You must demonstrate what a fan you are and how your passion, intelligence, motivation, and STRATEGY will take the team to the next level.

#6. If you are in finance and are applying to a publicly-traded company, you must read their latest annual report or 10 k to have enough business acumen.

You must do this for every interview as a finance professional if you want to join the company. For a people manager or individual contributor role.

It is a game-changer. It will give you a lot of insight to answer the questions better, they will be pleased, and it will help you a lot once you land the actual job.

Author:

Ruth Valverde A.

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What do you need to do to land on your dream job as a finance professional?

You want to let them know how much you know about them and how you can provide tons of value to them as a people manager.
You must demonstrate what a fan you are and how your passion, intelligence, motivation, and STRATEGY will take the team to the next level.