Talk me in or out of applying for this supervisory role

[Teasethedog]

Big opportunity here to have a really good shot at applying for and getting a supervisor role. I’ve spoken to the manager and am being strongly encouraged to apply.

Thing is I’ve no managerial experience and it’s managing 12 people! I know all the people and they are all very nice and supportive but it’s a different thing to be their manager?

How do you make that jump from non management to manager and how is it best to show I’d be capable during the interview?

Do I just say that I’d be firm but fair and treat everyone the same? I’d have their backs as long as they weren’t in the wrong etc but would expect to lay the law down if they needed it.

I’m really not sure what constitutes a good manager (I know what type I like) but what’s the best way to present myself and portray how I would be?

Any advice would be very gratefully received

12 people is a lot to line manage! I think you should go for it though, your first management job is hard so make sure you ask in your interview what mentoring and support you will have to succeed in your role.

I like your approach. Firm but fair. I'd advise to always follow company policy (then there is no comeback or accusation of unfairness) and seek advice from HR and management as situations arise that you want to run past someone else.

Definitely worth going for it! It shows ambition to apply and is good interview practice - if this isn't the right time then you'll be prepared for the next opportunity. Win/win situation.

Go for it. You won't learn how to manage until you actually have to manage someone.
My first management job was for a team of 10, I made mistakes but learned a lot and stayed for 12 years.
If you are line managing people you can be a "friendly professional" but you can never be 'friends' with them, there will always have to be some sort of boundary.
Perhaps read up on management styles, it is helpful. I had a couple of sessions with a professional mentor who assisted me....she made me realise that I was managing people in the way I would refer to be managed myself, but that wasn't necessarily what other people needed. It helped me to adapt my style and get more out of my team.....

Keep it professional no one is your friend they are your employees, accept some will suck up & some are purely there to work and not get involved
Respect and listen
Communication and responding Professional always
Give Feedback or when requested it
Do not gossip or have clicks
Do not take your moods out on your staff
Do not favour people or be gossiping or joining them on social media to have lots of new friends.
Keep your staffs privacy including sick days and personal leave private.
If you have issues consult the person concerned not everyone else in the company.
Do not take your added stress out on your staff as you learn your role.
Be willing to train in improving yourself that it is not everyone else.
Be good at your job and call on your boss and company for help when you need it.
Respect individuality
Try and keep a good repore between everyone in the workplace.
Keep calm when someone's personal life takes over as it does,, no pressure does anyone any good.
A good manager is someone who wants to be in the role and has professional approach.
Don't let the Manager role go to your head!

I've seen many, many managers make the mistake of being matey with their employees, being in private WhatsApp groups outside of work and allowing clicks to form and also treating the employees they grew up alongside totally different

This is now the horrible, toxic workplace I have to work in. Luckily for me I can distance myself from it most of the time but others aren't so lucky

To be a successful manager/supervisor I strongly suggest you maintain a professional distance from the people you are responsible for as this hasn't been done at my workplace and it has created a horrible atmosphere

Yes I am looking for a new job. Good luck

I would second the advice to keep a professional distance. The team you manage are your colleagues, not your mates. You can be friendly - for example go to the Christmas night out or the occasional leaving do - without being friends. I worked with a boss like this for 2 years. We had the occasional pub night out. But we all understood that next day she was back to being our boss again.

I was also unfortunate enough to have a boss who was a very pleasant woman but who hated confrontations. I went to her with a problem and instead of dealing with it she kicked it into the long grass. Her failure to deal with a situation at line manager level cost that organization thousands of pounds in compensation at a later stage when the problem became toxic. As you can imagine, this did not have a good effect upon her career.