Managers, how did you get over lack of confidence to break into a management position?

[Twinklemegan]

A job is potentially coming up where I work which 6 months ago I would never have contemplated applying for. But I've gained a lot of experience over the last few months and reading the job description/person spec I think I could actually do the job, certainly on paper. But I have this strong, nagging doubt that I won't be taken seriously, and won't have the necessary authority/gravitas for the role, which will involve a lot of partnership working with other organisations. I want to discuss the job with my managers but I'm afraid of being laughed out of the room.

I think I'm being a little irrational. I'm not that young (31) and as I said I do meet all the essential criteria (at least on my interpretation). But in my profession people at that level tend to be old-timers and the profession generally is very set in its ways.

I'd really appreciate any advice for how I could approach this. Thanks.

when will it come up, do you have time to get some training? management training, assertiveness perhaps

Yes, it will probably be at least 3 months away, maybe more. It's already written into my Personal Development Plan to do whatever courses come up, so I'll be keeping an eye out. Up to now I've been reluctant to take the time out of work, but I'll make more of an effort to go now.

i had management training last summer and since then have been promoted twice (have worked there for 10yr+). apart from learning new stuff it is so worthwhile for reinforcing what you know and building confidence.

i found motherhood really helped a lot too. no body laughs mummy out of the room.

You're right, I've become a lot more assertive since being a mum (outwardly at least). Until I got my current job I've always worked for pretty overbearing female bosses so I'm still working on the self-belief aspect of things.

for me it was the awful thought of having a new person as boss. no thanks, i'll do it.

it is a painful process applying though, they'll know all yoru weaknesses (and strengths!) so better make sure you do to.

too

Me too Fishie. At the moment I get a lot delegated to me. If a new boss came in and was more controlling I'd have real difficulty with that.

I am no longer a manager but was one for 6 yrs.
I would say that if you meet the criteria go for it, sometimes it is a confidence trick, be prepared be aware of pit falls.
I think there are people who will automatically try to undermine you but those have issues. nothing to do with you personally.

Once in the job try to organise support, make use of any training / induction provided, work with peer/ line manager.

be prepared for challenges make time for people but early on make sure you set limits on it, be assertive, even if you don't feel it try to project an image of calm. it will come in time.

is that helpful? is that what you are looking for?

Yes, that is helpful thanks. It's a weird position because I'm on a year's contract at the moment and I'm likely to have two options to go permanent. One is the safe option to apply for effectively my job gone permanent, but on a lower salary and consequently status (they've gone and called the job an "Assistant" rather than an "Officer" to save money on pay - grr.) The other is to take the plunge and go for the principal officer job. I really hope the two things don't come along at the same time...

Could you identify a mentor, someone who perhaps displays the sort of gravitas you mention? I work with an incredibly dynamic older woman and I have gained so much from her.

I used to suffer from confidence issues and the thing that worked from me was pushing myself to perform in meetings. I hated speaking up in meetings but I forced myself to do it. I used to prepare like mad for meetings and rehearse what I wanted to say. I would force myself to speak, to say anything. I gradually found that it got easier and people actually listened.

What do you mean by gravitas? I find that some younger people let themselves down in formal settings because their language is either too informal or too formal. My biggest downfall, I think, was to smile too much. I thought if I smiled a lot people would like me and listen to me because of that. I was once told that I came across as slightly hysterical. I've toned things down a lot and have also modulated my voice. I sound very different in meetings than I do at home. I don't put on an accent or anything like that, but my voice is a little lower.

oooh, sounds like the wonderful world of local government to me!

my first proper management post was a bit of a leap as it was 2 grades above iyswim.
I think it is always worth going for it preparing well before hand and fake confidence use which ever trick it works for you.
it is worth going into a meeting/ interview thinking 'this is mine'
a former manager used to say don't go for 'doing well' go for dazzle them '

Gravitas.. Well, I have always looked young for my age and I have a bit of a complex about that I think. The rest of it is within me I think. I definitely need to inform myself much better about all the strategic issues that I've tended to avoid up to now, and if I feel better informed that will hopefully help a lot.

Actually - and correct me if I'm wrong - I think a lot of people go a very long way by having the gift of the gab, talking the talk etc. I have real difficulty with that. Being a bit of a perfectionist, if I'm not 100% confident on something I'm generally reluctant to take it on at all.

Unfortunately ,in my particular sector I don't have the ability to climb the ladder gradually. It's the level I am now and then a huge leap to principal officer grade with nothing in between. Whether they're prepared to employ someone who's currently so far below the grade who knows, but the same would apply to my colleagues as well, unless they take into account someone's increment which seems a little unfair.

LLarregub - I couldn't possibly comment

perfectionist is not a bad quality but when you have to make decisions you really need to grade them. by all means be informed but not to the point of being paralysed by it.

I mean some thing are not worth sweating over, others need your attention, others still are best delegated. doing everything to make sure is done right is not compatible with managing effectively I think.

but it occasionally does give you that knot in the belly

Well, I don't think your age is particularly an issue for a principal officer grade. But you will need to tackle those strategic issues and I'm afraid there is a need to play the political game. You will need to develop the gift of the gab, as you call it. I think the partnership working, especially, will require someone who can front the organisation and speak for it.

I recruit a lot at senior level and find that people generally undersell themselves. Does your organisation have a management competencies? If you are interested I can send you the ones used by my organisation. There's stuff in there relevant to the sort of post you are talking about but also sets out the ways by which you can develop in these areas. You'll have to promise to eat it after you've read it, of course! If you are interested, email me on llareggubmn at gmaildotcom

Sorry, I meant to say as well that the post will involve strong negotiating abilities and having to make unpopular decisions with financial consequences for people (trying to stay very general here). As well as more fluffy "outreach" kind of things.

I'm thinking (and again I'd appreciate thoughts on this) that a lot of my "authority/gravitas" problem would be solved simply by having an appropriate post title. When I've had to make similar decisions in past roles the immediate reaction of the recipient has been to want to talk to someone more senior. Already in my current job (with no "Assistant" in my job title) I've found people treat me completely differently. Or am I imagining this - is it just me being more confident?

X-posted. Thanks again. I might well email you Llarregub, thanks. Yes I know I have to tackle the strategic issues and I am already doing that in my current job. I know so much more about public sector budgets, service plans, performance indicators than I ever did before - I'm even finding it quite interesting.

I know what you mean about language as well. But I did surprise myself recently in a meeting with the Director when I felt I put my points across really well. I think perhaps I do have it in me if I work hard and, as SFXMum says, learn to delegate. I've become much better at that recently as my current role includes project management. Also, I have to manage a volunteer for the next few months and I think that will help me a lot.

You see, I'm talking myself into it now...

Possibly. Possibly not. It is hard to comment without knowing you!

In my role I have to be good at servant-master leadership. In other words, making people more "senior" than me do what I want rather than what they want. I think that this is bit of a dark art, but it helps to analyse the power base and agendas etc.

Personally I'm not that bothered about job titles, but I agree that titles such as "assistant" and "officer" tend to be overlooked and underplayed. For the people that are bothered, then the title needs to reflect the autonomy given to the role. It also helps, I think, when introducing yourself at meetings to explain your role, the dimensions and authority, just to give a bit of context. There is always someone who doesn;t know you!

Go for it. I read some research somewhere that suggested that women will only apply for a job if they know, beyond all certainty, that they can do it. The same research said that men would go for the job if they were confident they could do a proportion of it.

Please do go for it.....

Yes, there's a fair bit of servant-master leadership in my job as well. It's that project management thing of the roles in a project being different from the hierarchical roles. It's working OK so far.

Thanks for your time - chatting on here really helps me get things straight in my own mind.

I'd go for it, and hold very clearly in your head that you meet the person specification. It is worth making a list of all the things you've done (either in this job or previous jobs) that demonstrate this, so you can drop them in at interview - don't wait to be asked!
And at the interview, don't tell them why you want the job, tell them what you'll do for them - amazing how many people don't do this!
You could try reading 'what colour is your parachute' - it is very American, but if you do all the exercises etc it is excellent at helping you see that you are doing them a favour by applying for a job that you'll do well!

I actually got my management position by accident!!

I applied for the 'wrong' job (our job adverts are like an online shop and I added the wrong job into my basket by mistake!!).

I didnt realise until half way through the interview that I was actually being interviewed for a completely different job to the one I thought I'd applied for

Then somehow, miraculously, I managed to be offered the position!!

Sorry Twinklemegan, I know this doesn't help you but just thought I'd tell you that I don't have much confidence at all and somehow managed to blag my way through! I would never have applied for the job I have now because, like you, I wouldn't have ever thought I'd be successful!

Oops, posted that too soon...

Go for it Twinkle, if you meet the person spec and think that you can do the job then you're half way there already!

Good luck

Lol Tequila.

I'm blowing hot and cold on this, but it's looking like the safer bet is going to come up first so I'll definitely be applying for that or I could end up jobless. Then we'll see.

The last couple of days work has been particularly stressful and it's got me thinking about how I'd find it with a job that would inevitably stress me out. The techie stuff where I can put my head down and use my brain I absolutely love. The travelling, meetings and networking I don't really like. But difficult, techie stuff doesn't pay a living wage. And should I be more ambitious? Am I living up to be potential...?

Oh God, I don't know. Watch this space.

To my potential.