From the Ask Tom mailbag:

Question:

Please, help me. I am 26, a mechanical engineer, Egyptian, living in Egypt. I am working as a mechanical engineer on drilling rigs, but I want to move into a career in management. I think I am ready for this move, but the problem I face is that I don’t know how to start. What should I learn first?

Response:

There is no technique to learn that makes you a manager. It is a role that you play inside an organization. You report to either a supervisor or a manager. Your next step is to simply observe your boss. What kinds of things are they doing, what kinds of things are they responsible for? You will find it is a totally different job than your job. Talk to your boss, explain your interest.

Understand, this is a long term process. You may think you are ready, but you are only ready to start. You are only ready to start to learn. You are NOT ready to take a position as a manager.

Explain to your boss, that, over the next few months, you would like to help, assist in some of the smaller duties, so that you can understand what is involved, so that you can practice.

Becoming a manager is not something you learn. Becoming a manager is something you grow into. You have the first ingredient, your desire to grow. -TF