How do you ask a manager for a leadership role?

Dear Candid Boss,

How can I approach my current leader to see if I would be considered for a formal leadership role in the future? How do I start that conversation in a way that makes me seem qualified—and not just pushy or impatient?

Signed,
Eager to Grow

How do you ask a manager for a leadership role?

Dear Eager to Grow,

I know that this conversation can seem nerve-wracking, but remember that it’s also exciting! You’re thinking about taking the next step in your career and a good manager will be equally enthusiastic about your hunger for growth.

When starting this conversation, the key thing is to not only explain the fact that you’re interested in management, but also why you’re interested.

If you can prove that you understand what the job is, why you would enjoy it, provide evidence that you would be good at it, and explain you can have more impact for the team as a manager than you do in your current role, your promotion to leadership will actually solve problems for your boss—not create them (that is, assuming there’s a role available to promote you to).

But before you get into that, you need to ask yourself: Do you want to be a manager for the sake of a more prestigious title, or do you really want to do the things that managers do?

How do you ask a manager for a leadership role?

You’ll be persuasive if you can show that you understand what managers are actually responsible for, and that you are eager to do those things yourself. But if all you really want is more control, more money, or just the bragging rights, your boss will quickly pick up on your intentions and you’ll risk undermining your credibility.

Remember, managers have a lot on their plate—and those duties aren’t always fun. As a leader, you’ll actively solicit criticism from your team members. You’ll give formal performance reviews. You’ll be held accountable for other people’s results—which means you’ll often have accountability without control.

For some people, all of that sounds exciting and meaningful. For others, that sounds like a living hell.

Management is important, but it’s certainly not the only path to major impact. It’s a rewarding route, but it’s also a hard one—so make sure the day-to-day of the job sounds appealing to you before approaching your boss to discuss moving up in the ranks. Do that, and you’re far more likely to have a great conversation.

This article is part of our monthly Ask an Expert series—a column dedicated to helping you tackle your biggest career concerns. Our coaches are excited to answer all of your burning questions, and you can submit one by emailing us at editor(at)themuse(dot)com and using Ask a Candid Boss in the subject line.

Your letter may be published in an article on The Muse. All letters to Ask a Expert become the property of Daily Muse, Inc and will be edited for length, clarity, and grammatical correctness.

How do you ask a manager for a leadership role?

We heard from Alicia, who said "I'm so ready for a team leader job, but I can't make my manager see it!"

Alicia had applied for two team leader positions in her company, but she didn't get either one. The HR Director told Alicia to keep trying.

Alicia told us "My manager tells me that I do a great job, but she picked other people for the two team leader job openings she had this year.

"I want to use the time between now and the next team leader opening to make it clear I'm ready for a promotion!"

It can be frustrating to communicate to higher-ups that you're ready to step into a leadership job. Here are five ways to do it.

Get the Big Picture

There's a reason organizations employ team leaders and supervisors, and it  isn't to sit behind a desk and boss other people around. That would be a waste of money!

A leader's principal job is to corral his or her team around a common goal -- whatever the team is supposed to accomplish.

The goal might be processing the day's orders on time and with no errors, or it might be to grow sales in the team's territory by five percent this quarter.

It's critical for anyone interested in a leadership job to understand more than just the duties and responsibilities of the team leader and the other team members.

What is the team's purpose? What are its monthly, quarterly and annual goals? What are the biggest impediments to hitting those goals, and how can they be surmounted? How does the team interact with other teams and individuals inside and outside the organization?

Your job as a would-be manager is to study and research these topics, ask all the questions you can think of and become an expert on the big picture surrounding your work group. You won't be ready for management job until you see how the pieces fit together!

Understand a Supervisor's Goals

Once you understand the context for whatever leadership job you're pursuing, drill down. Understand what a supervisor is responsible for delivering every day and every week.

In some departments, compliance with external regulations is a very big deal. If that's the case for you, study up on those regulations! If one-on-one training of new staff members is important in the leadership job you want, read about leadership development and hands-on training.

You want to be able to tell your boss "I have already looked deeply into what this role will require."

You don't want to have to tell him or her at the interview "I'm interested in learning what this team leader job entails." You must already know what the job entails, before you apply for it!

After all, you work right there in the company. You can watch, listen and learn every day - and if you want to get promoted, that's a must!

Set and Reach Your Own Goals

You don't have the leadership role you want just yet, but you can still make goals! Every job has goal-setting potential. Take the opportunity to set concrete goals in the job you're already performing, and when you hit them, share that information with your manager.

Look for logjams and processes that don't work well around you, and look into alternatives to those creaky or overburdened processes. The more proactive you can about your work before you go after a supervisory job, the more likely you are to get the job you want.

Take on Leader-Type Projects

The best way to get your manager used to seeing you as a leader is to take on leadership responsibilities right now! You can write up a training manual or a set of Frequently Asked Questions for new employees.

You can offer to train a newcomer or create a lunchtime Brown Bag event on a topic that your teammates could stand to know more about. You could help update marketing materials or your departmental procedure manual.

There are lots of ways to go above and beyond your job description. Look for them, and jump on them when you see them!

While You're Waiting, Be the Model Employee

It goes without saying that if you want a management role, you've got to be known as a model employee in your current job. That means doing your job with heart and vigor every day.

It means taking responsibility for problems even if they don't touch your desk. It means looking for solutions rather than passing the work on to someone else.

Above all, you'll make it clear you're ready for a leadership job when you look for ways to make your workplace more effective every day. That's what Alicia is doing now.

She's already put together a New Employee Guide just for newcomers to her department, and next she's going to teach her colleagues how to calm down angry customers with a mini-training session and Alicia's own scripts!

It's fun to stretch your job description, get altitude on your role and grow new muscles. By the time Alicia gets the promotion she wants, the team leader job will feel very familiar. You can do the same thing Alicia's doing, and make it obvious that you are ready to lead.

What do you say when applying for a leadership position?

Use positive, energetic language that communicates your enthusiasm for leadership. Ask yourself what you'd say if asked, “Why do you want to apply for this role?” and include that information in your cover letter. Keep your letter brief, but include specific details about how you can utilize your described skills.

How do you ask to be a team leader?

If you can prove that you understand what the job is, why you would enjoy it, provide evidence that you would be good at it, and explain you can have more impact for the team as a manager than you do in your current role, your promotion to leadership will actually solve problems for your boss—not create them (that is, ...

How do you take on a leadership role?

Consider the following steps to assume a leadership role and show your employers your potential as a leader:.
Focus on your performance. ... .
Cultivate followers. ... .
Understand your strengths. ... .
Think strategically. ... .
Seek mentors. ... .
Accept new opportunities. ... .
Learn from other leaders. ... .
Set goals..

How do you get a manager's role?

Tips for getting your first management role.
Tell your network you want to be a manager. Be honest with your manager about your desire to move into management, and ask if there are opportunities for advancement. ... .
Set SMART goals. ... .
Learn how your skills transfer. ... .
Stay focused on your current role..