To want to go into management because I don't like actually doing the job

[stevandmagg]

Obviously I would never tell anyone this... but this is how I feel.

I would much rather be thinking strategy and managing people doing the job, than doing the job myself.

I know it's the wrong reason to go into management.

But be honest, is this how people sometimes feel about it and can it be one of the reasons to go into management or will I just hate it ?

I'm in sales.

Anyone

I don't think it's the wrong reason. If that's why you want to do it then that works for you.

Can you get any management training?

I don't think it's the wrong reason to go into management at all. It is far better to go in because you love planning, strategy, team-leading than because you are brilliant at sales and get promoted above your ability, which is a common mistake.

Jumping to management quite quickly because you 'don't like' your current sales job is a cop out. Other sales staff you work with will see it as you can't do sales, or think you're too good for their job role. You don't want to be a manager whose team doesn't respect them. Far better to prove you can do the job for a couple of years at least (or whatever is normal for the industry) before moving up the ladder.
Maybe consider a different line of work altogether if sales isn't for you.

Oh I've been doing it for ages now. Like 10 years or so.

Ah ok. I never thought of it that way. That's really what happens indeed.

I also really enjoy the human aspect of work. Different personalities, how people work together best. Communication. I love analysing the dynamics. Maybe I should have gone into HR or something ? I love psychology and all that kind of stuff.

But I don't enjoy being the one who has to do the grunt work of knocking down doors. I'm just so tired of it.

I'm much better at strategic thinking, long term planning and seeing the 'bigger picture ' than I am at the everyday tasks. I think that can be a good thing. Being good at a jobs tasks, doesn't necessarily mean you'll be good at managing others doing it.

That's different then, you've proved yourself. Are there any career development opportunities to move into management where you currently work? Would you consider moving to a new employer?

I could have written this!!! I’m a natural leader, strategy and management comes easily. But if anyone can tell me how to get into management I’d love to know. I’m good at my job and have written entire strategies that my managers have used. It’s demonstrable. But never seems to be rewarded. I get bored of the job easily so have switched industries a lot but struggle to get a meaningful step up.

What do you not like about it?

You sound like good management material OP. Don't be shy about your motivation!

@Coolblur I think it could be a possibility. It's funny because in sales, you actually make less money sometimes than the sales people if you're the manager. Which is fine by me, if I at least enjoyed my job more.

Where I currently work, I think it could be possible. I've made it clear I'm interested and have been delegated a few tasks because my actual manager is managing way too many people at the moment. I'm also indirectly managing people who support me and I feel like I've really found a way to communicate with them and motivate them. I'm enjoying that part of it at the moment.

But I just always thought my main reason for wanting to go into management ( hating being the one doing the grunt work ) was just inherently the wrong reason.

Every manager was once a dogsbody. Go for it how hard can finger pointing be really.

I’m a ‘do the job’ person, as I couldn’t organise a piss up a brewery. I am also terrified if I had to manage anyone doing my job that they’d be shit and I’d end up doing it anyway.

I was a salesperson that moved to management. I was much better at managing a sales team than I was at selling. IMO it's a different skill set. The team sold more with me as a manager than as a sales person because I was good at management and the whole team was more productive. I think it's nuts making the best salesperson a head of a team in general, you want them out selling. Plus they are often (not always) competitive with their team!

The other thing I did was change the pay structure. My team could (and did on occasion) earn more than me if they had a great year. Management is just different, not necessarily better or worse!

That's great.

Thanks for your view ! Yes indeed, in sales, the best sales people should make more than the manager!

No one respects a manager who can't do their (the staffs) job, bear that in mind when climbing the ladder

I can do the job, I just don't like doing it.. but I totally know what you're saying.

It’s why I did it. I always loved planning and organising and telling people what to do. I actually started off as a holiday rep but had to take some time out due to needing to be in the country for family support reasons. Took an office job for an underwriting company, the work was boring but I actually liked the stability and routine of the 9-5 life so never went back to repping. Then started doing some step up for my manager, was accidentally good at it and really enjoyed it so went after a manager role. I’ve been a manager for about 6 years now of a team of around 17 underwriters. I still do the odd bit of underwriting myself but I much prefer the manager stuff.

I'm really surprised by the responses. Which probably shows that I'm a total newbie at this.

My manager is totally incapable of doing our jobs. She's been at the co 20 odd years and has got way too used to getting other people to do the work that she's forgotten what to do. Even worse when she has been pushed to do something she'll revert back to some old method from 10 years ago on an old finance system and buggar everything up, then the team has to fix it for her but you can't say anything because she'll get offended - yep, it's awful.

I can't imagine you'd be like this, but I think you've cracked it except remember a manager carries the responsibility of the team, a duty to represent the team, and from what I can tell, managers find dealing with their employees personal and stress problems the biggest challenge!!

I totally know the type of manager you're talking about. I've had them.

They just bark orders at everyone and have no idea how to do the job themselves. They also don't really understand the products or services on offer and spend their entire time just barking orders. They seem lazy. I had one of those and I truly hated it.

Then there are other managers who are really experts in their field but can take others views on board at the same time. They inspire by example. They're also not afraid to get their hands dirty sometimes. I would aim to be the second type of course - which I'm sure is what everyone says when they start out!

One of the enduring problems is that we look at people who do a job well and promote them into management. They use very different skills. As long as you understand enough to know what challenges your staff face, and are hard working, conscientious. strategic and supportive moving may be a really good thing for you to do. I am in the NHS, most of our managers are in management to avoid the actual jobs - no problem with that. Unfortunately a lot are lazy and not very bright.

It is a different skillset. My adult DS has just landed a managerial role in a company where the staff are highly trained in something he can't do. Obviously he'd feel a bit more confident if he could do what they do, and he is trying to learn, but his real skills will always be in planning, logistics, supply chain etc so that's what he's hired for.