This is a career building question.
First of all: I'm a HIGH D but have attempted over the years to utilize personality traits of the other DISC profiles based upon the circumstances I'm in.
Recently I've been in the corporate world where I've been technical lead in these positions. My responsbilities would be design, planning, and project management but I also train and led folks in how to do things more efficiently,etc. but with no direct financial responsibility.
Most of my career has been in consulting but I've also owned or been a partner in my own small-midsize technology firms in which I have led & managed both local and remote teams as well as had direct financial responsibilty but on a smaller scale.
I believe I am qualified since I have the background for management and I completely understand, albeit smaller, budgets and teams. I also have a lot of PM experience as well.
I'd say I'm 60-40 - 60% engineering and 40% management. I want to get into true management not as a control thing but because I feel like I could affect change better as well as I just absolutely love business. I constantly read and attend all business,leadership, and general management books/trainings I can find. I'm extremely passionate about conservative business models, helping a business be more efficient, and just general providing the best solution for a company to succeed.
How does someone compete or attempt to quantify their leadership and management experience to hiring managers when there are so many others who have been strictly management?
Sometimes, I feel like I'm going backwards in my career not forward.
One step at a time.
It's generally accepted that it's difficult to make changes in more than one dimension of your career at a time. It's even more difficult if you want to make the change by moving companies.
Do you have opportunity for incrementally increased responsibilities in the role you currently have? Try looking for smaller steps that take you in the right direction, rather than a major change. In my opinion It will take time and you will have to deliver along the way.
-- Peter
Go where they're actually hiring managers...
I hope you're looking to become a manager in an industry or region that's expanding, one that NEEDS managers.
Sorry if that sounds elemental, but in my experience that's often overlooked (e.g., people wanting to advance in a declining industry, or get ahead in a region that's losing jobs...).
You might be lucky enough or good enough to buck the trend. But why stack the odds against yourself?
Here's an example of the opposite situation: One of the assignments I'm working right now is with a large retail chain with plans to open almost 100 stores next year. Obviously they're going to have a HUGE need for frontline retail and service managers. There's no way their bench is deep enough, so they're going to be looking outside to fill a lot of these positions. The right candidates are going to have no trouble at all finding jobs with this company.
Your motivation sounds great, and your seriousness about this is great. But if there are "macro" trends working against you, you're less likely to acheive your goals.
Good luck!
Ha. Right now I'm in the
Ha. Right now I'm in the energy sector at an oil service company and the people above me are going nowhere. They are deeply entrenched in the company and it's going to take me years to move ahead. That's IF most of us are not laid off due to this declining sector.
I am currently looking for another position that is parallel to what I'm doing now. I am going to try starting at the "bottom" at other firms that will allow me to try moving up again.
Thanks for the advice everyone!