We have worked with many managers across the UW–Madison campus and discovered a few traits, tips, and courses that could help you progress in your aspiration to become a manager.
Kickstart Your Professional Growth
The following 3 steps are a commonly used process in career development. Each step has a link with step-by-step instructions and resources to guide you through developing a path for your learning:
1. Set career goals
Where would you like to be in one year? In five years? What experiences will help you achieve that? What interests and skills would you like to use in your career? Setting a career goal is about deciding where you want to head, and noting the steps needed to reach that point.
2. Talk to your manager
Having career conversations with your manager outside of review time is critical to success. Additionally, career conversations enable managers to support their employees’ professional development, and is one of the ways to develop an engaged and skilled workforce. These types of conversations can be challenging, but with thought and preparation, it doesn’t have to be that way, and you can have an honest and authentic dialog.
3. Create a plan
A Professional Development Plan (PDP) is a valuable document that establishes your career development goals and a strategy for meeting them. Whether you’re starting your professional career or reassessing your future development, a PDP serves as a helpful roadmap that outlines strengths, areas of need, and available resources. Below are aspiring manager learning and development options to consider as you build out your PDP with formal professional development, interactions with others, and on the job experiences.
Consider these Learning and Development Options:
Formal Professional Development
In pursuing managerial excellence, it is important to prioritize formal training, courses, and expert-guided learning experiences. It’s your roadmap to acquiring the skills, knowledge, and certifications that will set you apart as a highly effective manager. The curated resources below are optional opportunities to consider when writing your PDP that can help you begin to uncover the strategies, insights, and practical steps to unlock your full potential and build skills useful for a career in management.
Enroll in courses
- Active Listening to Support Effective Communication
- Building Trusting Work Relationships
- Bystander Intervention: Stepping In with Care and Confidence
- Coaching and Developing Others
- Emotional Intelligence@Work
- Face-to-Face Communication: Beyond the Basics
- Inclusive Teams: Co-Creating Team Culture, Values, and Intentions
- Modes of Conflict Management
- Personal Brand and Leadership Awareness
- Understanding Organizational Politics
- Your Interpersonal Style
Complete a certificate
Search for courses in LinkedIn Learning
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As a UW Madison employee, you have access to thousands of courses and personalized learning recommendations on LinkedIn Learning available to you on your schedule from any device.
Interactions with Others
In your journey towards a career in management, you’ll find that the wisdom gained from your colleagues, mentors, and industry experts is essential. This is where invaluable insights are shared, knowledge is passed down, and connections are formed. Learn from the best practices and real-world stories that illustrate the power of networking to help thrive in a managerial role. The curated resources listed below are available opportunities to become connected to others on campus.
Find a mentor
Find a community
On the Job Experiences
There is no teacher quite like the power of learning by doing in your workplace, where real-world challenges and opportunities become your classroom. It is here that you can build skills, gain insights, and develop instincts that set exceptional managers apart. Push yourself out of your comfort zone and towards your aspiration of becoming a manager by working with your manager to create opportunities right in your work environment like those listed below:
- Observing others
- Job shadows
- Undertaking special projects
- Taking on higher duties
- Job rotations
- Seeking feedback on specific tasks
- Site visits
- Stretch projects