Manchester Active on "Developing a Manager's Mentality"

MANCHESTER, U.K. - March 5, 2014 - PRLog -- Manchester Active on "Developing a Manager's Mentality"
http://www.manchesteractive.co.uk

At Manchester Active, we follow the ethos "act as if, and you will be". It is important that on your journey towards a leadership role, you utilise your own skills and traits effectively to prove to the people around you that you have what it takes. Here are some tips from the Manchester Active team on how to develop a manager's mentality...

Focus on now
No matter how big your ambitions, don’t let them distract you from excelling in your current role. Focus on the present as much as — or more than — the future. That’s the first step to getting ahead.

Help your management team succeed
Lean more towards yes than no whenever your manager asks you to help with something new. Find out what keeps your manager up at night and propose solutions to those problems.

Seize leadership opportunities - no matter how small
Make sure your “let me take that on” attitude extends beyond your relationship with your manager. Raise your hand for new initiatives or might be something as simple as facilitating a meeting or stepping in to negotiate a conflict between peers. These activities send the signal that you aspire to leadership potential.

Look for the “white space”
Another way to prove your potential is to take on projects in the “white space.” These are problems that others aren’t willing to tackle or don’t even know exist. Every organization has needs that nobody is paying attention to, or people are actively ignoring. When you take on a task that no one else is willing to do, you make yourself stand out.

Be confident, not arrogant
There’s a fine line between being ambitious and acting like you’re too big for your britches. Don’t try to exert authority when you don’t have it. “Humble confidence” shows appropriate modesty in your role, while having the self-assurance to know that you will rise to the next level.

Find role models
Look for people who have the roles you want and study what they do — how they act, communicate, and dress. Pick someone at the next level, someone similar to you, and find a way to work with them. Identify behaviours that you can copy while being true to yourself. What makes them successful?

Build relationships
“It’s not who you know, it’s who knows you.” Don’t take lightly any interactions that may seem informal. Treat every situation as an opportunity to demonstrate the value you bring to the organisation and your knowledge of the business. Prove your potential, networking is key!

To find out more information about how to develop your own manager's mentality, contact the Manchester Active team at: naomi@manchesteractive.co.uk

Manchester Active: "Giving people the opportunity to build long lasting careers"