3 clear signs that youre ready for a managerial role

3 clear signs that youre ready for a managerial role3 clear signs that youre ready for a managerial rolePeople are often promoted into managerial positions because theyre extremely good at the technical job they initially held.Its a natural progression- youre good at doing a specific job, so youll probably be good at managing other people who do it. But technical competence isnt perfectly correlated with managerial competence.Many people accept the transition to a manager as a default- they simply feel like its time. Or they feel as though theyve reached the top of the technical ladder, so they want to jump to a new ladder and start climbing again.I dont think either of those options is a particularly good reason for becoming a manager.If youre given the opportunity to transition from an individual contributor role to a managerial position, Id advise you to think carefully about why youre making the move. Theres nothing wrong with staying in your current role if you dont have any rea sons to become a manager.To help you avoid being unsure of yourself when offered a managerial position, I want to share my perspective on when to take the leap.Here are three ways to tell if youre ready1. You have a vision of what you can accomplish for the company as a leaderIdeally, you should have an internal motivation to become a manager.This motivation usually comes in the form of a vision for your kollektiv or an urge to improve a process within the company.It can be helpful to take a moment to think about what occupies your thoughts while at work. If you regularly find yourself thinking, Theres a better way to do this, then you may be mentally ready for a managerial position.The key is that you have some sort of larger vision. It could be about improving your team or the company goals- and it doesnt have to be perfectly clear right at this moment. But you need to have a feeling that what youre trying to accomplish is larger than the requirements of your individual role.If yo u really feel like you can offer the company more as a manager, thats a sign youre ready for the transition.2. Youre willing to develop a broader set of skillsEveryone who transitions into a managerial role has the same initial fantasy Ill be able to stay up-to-date with all the technical aspects of my last role.Unfortunately, thats not realistic. Managers dont have time to stay as technical as individual contributors. And eventually, youll actually become less skilled in whatever it welches you were doing.The good news is, this regression doesnt make you less effective.Instead of constantly learning about every new development in your field, youre learning new disciplines and gaining a broader kusine knowledge. Youre becoming effective in a different way.The reality is, some people dont want to do that.Its okay to be committed to your specific discipline and decide you want to concentrate on it exclusively. But if youre ready to gain a broader set of skills- to build a wide base of knowledge instead of a deep understanding- then the time may be right to become a manager.3. You cant realize your ambitions aloneBefore I took my current role as CEO of Morphic Therapeutic, I spent a lot of time on self-reflection. I was trying to uncover my passion and decide what my next step would be.I came to realize that I really wanted to help build a scientific culture. I had a particular workplace in mind, and I wanted to see it come to fruition. I knew the only way Id be able to have a hand in building that was by working at a company that was starting from scratch. No ingrained habits, no established culture to fight. A blank slate.I also knew the only way I could realize my vision was through leading and managing other people. I couldnt do it as a single contributor within the company. I needed the help of an entire team to make it happen.And I think thats really what a managerial leadership role is about executing on an idea you cant accomplish by yourself. You dont ne cessarily need to know where its going, but you must have ambition. Theres no reason to become a manager without some kind of aim to accomplish a goal thats bigger than your own abilities.If you have the sense that youre working towards something more important than your individual contribution, then youre likely ready for the transition to a managerial role.This article originally appeared on Quora.