ORLANDO, Fla. – For generations, moving into management was seen as a big promotion — but not anymore. According to LinkedIn research, nearly seven in 10 workers say they’d leave a job if they had a bad manager, and only 30 percent want to become a manager themselves in the next few years. So why are fewer people interested in leading?
A recent survey shows workers worry about the stress, the extra hours, and many are just happy where they are.
“You’re trying to get everybody to go on the same vision, on the same journey with you, right? Because that’s what you’re paid to do if you’re a leader. And it’s difficult,” said Julio C. Caba, DBA, career coach.
Experts say another issue is simple: most people were never taught to lead.
“They’re not giving them the opportunity to lead, the opportunity to take on these responsibilities,” explained Caba.
Fifty-eight percent of managers say they never received any formal leadership training.
But if you do want to move up, start by leading now. Volunteer for small projects, take initiative, and show you can own responsibility. Learn to give feedback that’s clear and kind without micromanaging. Build emotional intelligence. Great leaders listen and stay calm under pressure. Don’t try to do everything yourself. Delegating builds trust. Julio says one way to become a great leader is to help others become leaders themselves.
“In transformational leadership your job is to make other people leaders, to inspire them,” explained Caba.
And when you’re ready to step into a manager role, Julio says one of the first questions to ask is: what does success look like here?
“What’s the vision of the organization? What’s the end goal? Where are we heading?” said Caba.
Because even those who never saw themselves as leaders can become great ones.
Julio says leadership isn’t just a title, it’s a way of life. He recommends starting small: practice leading at home, with friends, and on projects. The habits you build now will follow you into the workplace later.
Contributors to this news report include: Cliff Tumetel, Producer; Bob Walko, Editor.