Can you become a manager without managing people? Yes, you can!
A manager can have many duties and responsibilities without directly managing people.
A Manager's Role
A manager can have various responsibilities, but there are a few characteristics that separate managers from other employees:
Leadership and authority
Delegation or strategic planning skills
High level of responsibility and accountability
Access to tools not available to other employees
Many of these characteristics can be found in managerial roles that don't require direct subordinates.
1. Project Management
A project manager is responsible for anything that involves a project and has duties such as:
Logistics — planning what, when, and who needs to do the work
Scheduling — to meet project milestones and deadlines
Budget — making sure the project is keeping to the specified budget
Effective communication — coordinating work done by different people
Project managers design and oversee a project, but they might not manage a team directly.
Project managers can work for various companies, such as construction companies.
2. Systems Manager
A systems manager designs and implements software, and may oversee the IT department.
Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on UnsplashAn organization's systems manager's duties may include:
Assess and evaluate technology needs
Install and maintain software and hardware
Report on improvements and upgrades
Systems managers work with people in various departments without direct reports. They often work in finance, insurance companies, or technology companies such as Microsoft.
3. Process Manager
Process managers analyze data to promote organizational growth.
Photo by Campaign Creators on UnsplashSome of their responsibilities include:
Monitor, assess, and implement changes
Document process improvements
Update policies and procedures
Process managers work with various teams to ensure the implementation of processes, and may not have direct reports.
They work at various organizations, but most work within the manufacturing industry.
Quiz
Eliza wants to become a manager without managing staff. She's great at budgeting and scheduling, and she's a good communicator. What kind of manager can Eliza become?
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