Do you have management potential?

Supervising takes specific talents that even good workers might not have

Do you have what it takes to be a boss?

Some people are natural managers. They love to lead, drive performance and contribute to the broader goals of a company. The perks also can be enticing — more money and perhaps even an office or expense account.

Yet, management isn't for everyone. It requires a unique set of skills to get the best performance out of all employees and to juggle a number of tasks all at once. Managers also put in longer hours and are held to a higher standard of accountability. 

Manager or managed?
Some workers simply evolve into managers over the course of their careers. Others are bored with their current position and see it as a way to tackle new challenges. In difficult economic times, some are promoted before they're ready, which could put them at a disadvantage.

"It's not just a raise in pay or better title," New York City counseling coach Lynn Berger said. "There's responsibilities and duties, that some people are better suited for than others."

If you're interested in pursuing a management position, you first should decide whether it would be a good fit.

Here are some questions to consider:

• What do you love about your job? Would you be disappointed if you no longer could do those tasks?
• Watch what your boss deals with every day. Are those tasks you would like to do? Could you do them better?
• Are you interested in mentoring others?
• Are you an effective communicator? Well-organized? Team-oriented? Patient?
• Are you confident and secure in your abilities and as a person?
• Can you hold people accountable? Could you discipline or fire a subordinate?

Since 1998, Dea Robinson, 47, has been managing a staff of five as practice administrator for Inpatient Medicine Service in Englewood, Colo., a Denver suburb.

She likes the variety and the challenge of her work, from mentoring to trying to coax a difficult employee to succeed.

"The bottom line is if you're in management, you have to figure out how to talk to people, get along with people," Robinson said.

You're not trying to be their friend, but you have to figure out what motivates someone in order to draw the best out of them, she added.

Pros and cons
Becoming a manager gives a worker a tremendous opportunity to grow professionally. Managers gain a broader perspective by being exposed to different aspects of a company's operations. They're forced to take a big-picture view.