Many times people get promoted to manager because they’ve been performing well in their “rank and file” job. The problem most new managers face? Rarely does a good job description exist for them.

In searching online for how others clarify the job of manager, a few websites take a stab at it. Among them, About.dom has a page of managerial job descriptions for the HR professions, and Management-Hub.com has a broad range of input on different managerial positions. But as informational as these pages are, none that I’ve found so far make me stand up and say “this is it!”

No doubt something exists out there, so if you know of a site with a good description, please let me know. In the meantime I’m going to offer a few basic nuts and bolts from my own perspective. In no way am I suggesting this is the end-all, be-all job description, but I do think that all management positions share some core responsibilities.

First of all, what being a manager is not: A manager is not a rank-and-file worker on steroids. It’s not “what I was doing before, only more of it.” Rank and file positions focus on raw products and whatever processes are needed to create a deliverable product or service.

Second, know that managers also have raw products and processes to be concerned about, but they are completely different from the focus of the rank and file. For the manager, the raw products are the minds of those on his team (their personal style as well as their knowledge and skill levels) and the systems in place within the organziation.

The processes that managers need to be concerned about are training their teams and adjusting systems as needed.

Sure, other requirements exist, but these are part of the core basics. Managers who become students of people, train their people, and allocate resources appropriately do well.

Those who simply do more of what they were doing before don’t do as well.

At its core, the job description of a manager involves an entirely different level of thinking.

Your thoughts? And if you know of any links that would add to this discussion, I’m interested.

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Filed in Work, Business, Training, Motivation, Management, Team Building, Workplace