Being a team manager in civil service

[IPartridge]

Have an interview for a team manager role in same org. I'm interested in the area of work, it has some crossover with the team I'm currently in. But I'm not sure about the managing people part.

My main concern is the mental load of being responsible for people's performance, for supporting them with their wellbeing, and helping them to develop.

Does this mean I'm not cut out to be a manager?

it does sound that way.

I mean, you're basically saying you don't want to do the "managing a team" part of a team manager's role

(plus if it's anything like my CS team, you'll be expected to help them with their awkward queries about their work when you haven't actually done the work yourself to know even the non-awkward parts properly...)

Yeah I did make it sound pretty clear didn't I? 😬

I don't mind some supporting and helping people to progress but I'm concerned I'll be feeling personally responsible for their wellbeing and careers. Not that I've ever felt a manager took that much interest in me.

I don’t know if grade makes a difference to it but my DH is a G6 and he definitely feels responsible for his staff. He is very aware of their work issues, personal issues and wellbeing and he definitely spends a lot of time supporting them as well as supporting the actual work.

I’m a manager (private sector) and also spend a lot of time and energy on staff wellbeing.

I'm not sure you sound suited a role managing people.

You clearly don’t want to do the team management bit of team manager. There is nothing worse than a manager who doesn’t want to manage (CS is full of them unfortunately) and/or a team manager who doesn’t want to manage the team - the two are different as one is about having a checked out line manager and the other is about having a manager who is not leading the team effectively. Both are always to the detriment of the staff they are responsible for.

Agree with others please don't be that manager that everyone whines about because we can all tell you don't care about people and their career development and well-being it sucks been on the receiving end.

Its not a personal failure or a bad thing either that management isn't for you!

Thanks for the replies. Just to clarify my concern is that the looking after people part of the job may affect me too much and carry over into my personal life. It's not that I don't care, I probably care too much. I'm also knackered and menopausal with elderly parents who need support.

I do appreciate the sanity check on this. I agree that it's not the role for me.