What do you like most about managing people?

Interview Preparation Management
#1

Six Big Reasons Why You Will Love Managing

  1. Managing Tests Your Ability to Learn and Adapt
    Taking on the role of the manager is a commitment to learning new skills at a rapid pace. From the soft skills of delivering performance feedback and conducting coaching discussions to issues around budgeting and reporting, expect your first few years in management to be a whirlwind of new learning. For many, exposure to all of the “new” of managing is one of the most exciting aspects of the role.

  2. You Get the Opportunity to Create
    I love the creative side of managing. Creating an effective working environment where people are excited to do their best is a challenging task demanding creativity. As you rise through the ranks, you may get to create new programs, teams, products, processes and even markets or businesses. Within twelve months of my first management job, I was involved in creating new programs and departments for new markets. Within four years, I was working inside one of the world’s largest businesses, helping create a new business unit. This work of creating was rocket fuel for motivation and performance.

  3. You Get the Opportunity to Create with a Group
    One of my favorite responses to the question, “Why did you get into management?” came from a newly retired CEO reflecting on his career. His answer: “I enjoyed my engineering work but realized I could create much more for my firm by leading a team of engineers.” In my examples above of building new departments and businesses, I was privileged to work with some incredible people united around a common goal. While the accomplishments fade, the experience of working with great people stays with you for a lifetime.

  4. You Get to Help Good People Succeed
    While you will navigate some challenging characters, it’s energizing to work around and to support people interested in doing their best and growing in their careers. If you care for people, it’s a privilege to support their efforts.

  5. The Job is Challenging—There are Always Problems to Solve
    If you like solving puzzles the job is perfect for you. There’s an intense level of satisfaction that comes from untangling a customer problem and making it right or solving a vexing technical or process problem that leads to success. As you grow in your career, you will face complex people and structural challenges, and at some point, you may help navigate the ultimate puzzle of solving for strategy and bringing it to life.

  6. Get it Right and You Will Look Back and Marvel at What You Helped Create
    The best leaders I’ve worked around are motivated to create results but inspired by the work of building careers. If you put your heart and soul into this work, at some day in the future, you get to look back just for a minute at the people you helped launch into their careers and genuinely marvel at what they’ve achieved. There’s the person you gave a break to who’s now running a business. And the person you worked hard at coaching back from the brink of the job is now a successful executive. And you smile because you had the opportunity to support them for one brief step during their respective journeys.