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What is it like to be a manager as your career?
Day in my life kind of examples?
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8 answers
Updated
PJ’s Answer
Hi Megna,
That's a big question! I've spent over 30 years in restaurant management, from places like Friendly's to fine dining. As a manager, you're responsible for people, things, places, and systems. Good restaurant managers can observe, plan, make backup plans, and anticipate needs. With employees, you have to train, guide, and encourage teamwork to get the job done; whether it's a slow day or a busy one with lines out the door. Some managers thrive in stress and chaos, while others prefer more control. Building a strong team through hiring, training, and proper staffing is crucial for success. You also need to ensure there's enough food and drinks for customers. After the shift, you clean everything from top to bottom, from every bottle of booze to every piece of silverware, and get ready to do it all again the next day.
All the best,
PJ
That's a big question! I've spent over 30 years in restaurant management, from places like Friendly's to fine dining. As a manager, you're responsible for people, things, places, and systems. Good restaurant managers can observe, plan, make backup plans, and anticipate needs. With employees, you have to train, guide, and encourage teamwork to get the job done; whether it's a slow day or a busy one with lines out the door. Some managers thrive in stress and chaos, while others prefer more control. Building a strong team through hiring, training, and proper staffing is crucial for success. You also need to ensure there's enough food and drinks for customers. After the shift, you clean everything from top to bottom, from every bottle of booze to every piece of silverware, and get ready to do it all again the next day.
All the best,
PJ
Updated
Patrick’s Answer
Megan, you should know that the role of a manager can vary depending on the type of team you lead. As the manager within consulting responsible for Data Analytics and AI engagements. Most of my responsibilities span across a diverse range of tasks due to the varied skills of my team members. My team includes people who handle creating business requirements, defining Large Language Models, Statistical Models, those who program machine learning, and others who test and deploy what we build. Because of this, my daily activities fluctuate widely.
I spend a significant amount of time attending meetings that affect my team’s work, managing client relationships, resolving conflicts, meeting on an individual by individual to discuss their needs, issues, and career goals. My primary role is to ensure that bring value to my clients while also empower my team by removing obstacles. By enabling them to work more efficiently, the team performs better, and I enjoy helping them reach their goals. With over 20 years of management experience, I've learned a lot, and that knowledge helps me support my team effectively.
Beyond the routine tasks, I also do whatever is necessary to support my team's morale or improving the team's work environment. Short-term tasks like these may seem small, but they are critical for team productivity. I find great joy in helping and developing people. I believe that it is the job of everyone to help build those below so that they can one day take on larger and more meaningful roles than they do today. Ultimately, management is a dynamic and ever-changing role. It’s not for everyone, but as someone who thrives on working with people, it’s a role that suits me well, and I find it deeply rewarding.
I spend a significant amount of time attending meetings that affect my team’s work, managing client relationships, resolving conflicts, meeting on an individual by individual to discuss their needs, issues, and career goals. My primary role is to ensure that bring value to my clients while also empower my team by removing obstacles. By enabling them to work more efficiently, the team performs better, and I enjoy helping them reach their goals. With over 20 years of management experience, I've learned a lot, and that knowledge helps me support my team effectively.
Beyond the routine tasks, I also do whatever is necessary to support my team's morale or improving the team's work environment. Short-term tasks like these may seem small, but they are critical for team productivity. I find great joy in helping and developing people. I believe that it is the job of everyone to help build those below so that they can one day take on larger and more meaningful roles than they do today. Ultimately, management is a dynamic and ever-changing role. It’s not for everyone, but as someone who thrives on working with people, it’s a role that suits me well, and I find it deeply rewarding.
Updated
Cliff’s Answer
Megan,
I think it sort of depends on what kind of a manager you are. I'm a manager of a firmware integration and test team. I have people who create automated scripting to test firmware commits, people who do builds (compile and link) of firmware, and people who do lab support for hardware needed to enable the whole firmware development team. As a result, what I do each day varies greatly since the skills of my team are quite varied.
I do attend a lot of meetings on things that impact my team and their work items. I do some project management to ensure that the team has what they need to do their job (e.g. hardware, definitions of the work items, etc.). I also meet with my team members regularly to understand their needs, issues, career aspirations, etc.
My main job is to enable my team to ensure they have what they need to do their job. It's called 'servant leadership' - you enable them by eliminating blockers and thereby they deliver faster and better. I really enjoy getting to know my team personally and helping them achieve their goals. I've been a manager over 30 years now, so I have seen a lot and that experience really helps me help them.
Every manager works for a business and the business needs to be profitable. As a result, there are things you have to do as a manager that are not fun (e.g. layoffs, etc.), so I do my best to handle these with sensitivity. It can be hard, but if you do your best to be professional and sensitive, it's probably the best that can be done. Your job as a manager is to balance these competing needs.
I also do 'whatever is needed' to help the team. Our team is moving from one building to another and I'm working with people on the team and ensuring the new office space is as nice as possible for the team. These are short-term items, but very important as morale/productivity of the team can be negatively impacted if done poorly.
I really enjoy developing people in my role. I am part of a 'management prep seminar' series where we explain management to future management candidates. It's a set of frank discussions on many different topics managers have to navigate. It's exciting doing that with younger people in my department. I also do a coaching series where we teach, and the candidates experience coaching; This is a transformative learning series.
So, management is an ever-changing job. It's not for everyone, but I really like it, though. I'm a 'people person', so it fits my personality.
Good luck with your future!
I think it sort of depends on what kind of a manager you are. I'm a manager of a firmware integration and test team. I have people who create automated scripting to test firmware commits, people who do builds (compile and link) of firmware, and people who do lab support for hardware needed to enable the whole firmware development team. As a result, what I do each day varies greatly since the skills of my team are quite varied.
I do attend a lot of meetings on things that impact my team and their work items. I do some project management to ensure that the team has what they need to do their job (e.g. hardware, definitions of the work items, etc.). I also meet with my team members regularly to understand their needs, issues, career aspirations, etc.
My main job is to enable my team to ensure they have what they need to do their job. It's called 'servant leadership' - you enable them by eliminating blockers and thereby they deliver faster and better. I really enjoy getting to know my team personally and helping them achieve their goals. I've been a manager over 30 years now, so I have seen a lot and that experience really helps me help them.
Every manager works for a business and the business needs to be profitable. As a result, there are things you have to do as a manager that are not fun (e.g. layoffs, etc.), so I do my best to handle these with sensitivity. It can be hard, but if you do your best to be professional and sensitive, it's probably the best that can be done. Your job as a manager is to balance these competing needs.
I also do 'whatever is needed' to help the team. Our team is moving from one building to another and I'm working with people on the team and ensuring the new office space is as nice as possible for the team. These are short-term items, but very important as morale/productivity of the team can be negatively impacted if done poorly.
I really enjoy developing people in my role. I am part of a 'management prep seminar' series where we explain management to future management candidates. It's a set of frank discussions on many different topics managers have to navigate. It's exciting doing that with younger people in my department. I also do a coaching series where we teach, and the candidates experience coaching; This is a transformative learning series.
So, management is an ever-changing job. It's not for everyone, but I really like it, though. I'm a 'people person', so it fits my personality.
Good luck with your future!
Updated
Dr’s Answer
Hey Megan,
That’s such a good question — a lot of people hear "manager” and just picture someone bossing people around, but it’s way more than that. Honestly, being a manager feels like you’re balancing between leading, supporting, and solving problems — every day’s a little different.
For example, a typical day could start with checking in on your team — making sure everyone’s clear on what they’re working on, seeing if anyone’s stuck, and helping them figure things out. You’re like the person who clears the roadblocks so the team can keep moving.
Then, there are meetings — with your own team, other departments, or your boss. A lot of it is about staying updated, making decisions, or explaining what your team needs to get their job done better.
You also spend time planning ahead — setting deadlines, adjusting when things change, and making sure the team isn’t overwhelmed. And yep, sometimes it means having tough conversations if things aren’t going well — but you also get to celebrate the winsband give credit where it’s due.
The best part? You actually see people grow — like when someone you’re mentoring figures things out on their own, or when a project you worked hard on finally comes together. It’s super rewarding, but it definitely comes with pressure too because you’re responsible for more than just your own work.
If you like helping people, organizing things, and solving problems, management could be a really good fit. And the cool part is — every industry needs good managers, so you’ve got options!
That’s such a good question — a lot of people hear "manager” and just picture someone bossing people around, but it’s way more than that. Honestly, being a manager feels like you’re balancing between leading, supporting, and solving problems — every day’s a little different.
For example, a typical day could start with checking in on your team — making sure everyone’s clear on what they’re working on, seeing if anyone’s stuck, and helping them figure things out. You’re like the person who clears the roadblocks so the team can keep moving.
Then, there are meetings — with your own team, other departments, or your boss. A lot of it is about staying updated, making decisions, or explaining what your team needs to get their job done better.
You also spend time planning ahead — setting deadlines, adjusting when things change, and making sure the team isn’t overwhelmed. And yep, sometimes it means having tough conversations if things aren’t going well — but you also get to celebrate the winsband give credit where it’s due.
The best part? You actually see people grow — like when someone you’re mentoring figures things out on their own, or when a project you worked hard on finally comes together. It’s super rewarding, but it definitely comes with pressure too because you’re responsible for more than just your own work.
If you like helping people, organizing things, and solving problems, management could be a really good fit. And the cool part is — every industry needs good managers, so you’ve got options!
Updated
Tricia’s Answer
Hi Megan,
I work in creative services as a regional manager. More simply, I manage graphic arts requests for large distributors of beverages across several states. I start my day with a morning check list of tasks and review the jobs coming in and read and respond back to emails. I check in with the team and offer any support, delegate tasks and see where I can help. Some days I have meetings scheduled to check in either with the team or with my leadership team. My position allows me to be flexible and pivot to whatever task is needed. Some days it is a lot of administrative /order entry tasks, while others I am handling a lot of customer service, responding back and assisting our clients needs. What is great though is seeing a project through to the end and getting the printed piece to the end client with happy results. This could be a table tent insert, menu you see at a restaurant or a banner outside at a festival.
Hope this helps, good luck!
I work in creative services as a regional manager. More simply, I manage graphic arts requests for large distributors of beverages across several states. I start my day with a morning check list of tasks and review the jobs coming in and read and respond back to emails. I check in with the team and offer any support, delegate tasks and see where I can help. Some days I have meetings scheduled to check in either with the team or with my leadership team. My position allows me to be flexible and pivot to whatever task is needed. Some days it is a lot of administrative /order entry tasks, while others I am handling a lot of customer service, responding back and assisting our clients needs. What is great though is seeing a project through to the end and getting the printed piece to the end client with happy results. This could be a table tent insert, menu you see at a restaurant or a banner outside at a festival.
Hope this helps, good luck!
Updated
Jessica’s Answer
Hi Megan,
I've held various managerial positions across different industries, but my approach as a manager has always been consistent. This consistency has been key to my success, regardless of the team or industry. When asked about my leadership style, I realized I adapt it based on the situation and the individual I'm working with.
In terms of being a manager, my experiences have varied greatly:
- **Back Office Manager/Case Manager**: I managed medical assistants and ensured daily tasks were completed. As a case manager, I handled physician orders, patient requests, and insurance requirements.
- **Clinic Manager**: I oversaw clinic operations and supervised staff. My days varied, focusing on operations and ensuring the team had the resources they needed.
- **Executive Assistant**: I managed schedules, travel, finances, meetings, and confidential information. My tasks depended on the priorities of the executives and ongoing projects.
- **Office Manager**: I supervised staff and handled administrative tasks like payroll and accounts receivable. My routine was stable, with set deadlines and goals achieved with the help of sales assistants.
These roles have equipped me with diverse skills, leading to positions as a business development manager, operations manager, and career mentor. Now, as a life coach, I use my experience to help others achieve their goals, which is the most rewarding part of my career.
I've held various managerial positions across different industries, but my approach as a manager has always been consistent. This consistency has been key to my success, regardless of the team or industry. When asked about my leadership style, I realized I adapt it based on the situation and the individual I'm working with.
In terms of being a manager, my experiences have varied greatly:
- **Back Office Manager/Case Manager**: I managed medical assistants and ensured daily tasks were completed. As a case manager, I handled physician orders, patient requests, and insurance requirements.
- **Clinic Manager**: I oversaw clinic operations and supervised staff. My days varied, focusing on operations and ensuring the team had the resources they needed.
- **Executive Assistant**: I managed schedules, travel, finances, meetings, and confidential information. My tasks depended on the priorities of the executives and ongoing projects.
- **Office Manager**: I supervised staff and handled administrative tasks like payroll and accounts receivable. My routine was stable, with set deadlines and goals achieved with the help of sales assistants.
These roles have equipped me with diverse skills, leading to positions as a business development manager, operations manager, and career mentor. Now, as a life coach, I use my experience to help others achieve their goals, which is the most rewarding part of my career.
Updated
David’s Answer
Hi Megan,
Being a manager as a career can be rewarding and challenging at the same time. It involves more than just overseeing tasks—it’s about leading people, making decisions, and driving the success of a team or an organization. Here’s a detailed look at what it’s like to be a manager:
**Pros of Being a Manager**
1. **Leadership and Influence**
- You have the ability to shape the direction of a team and influence company strategy.
- You can motivate and mentor employees, helping them develop their skills and reach their potential.
2. **Career Growth and Higher Pay**
- Management roles often come with higher salaries, bonuses, and better benefits.
- There are usually more opportunities for promotion and upward mobility.
3. **Strategic Involvement**
- You contribute to decision-making at a higher level, influencing business outcomes and long-term goals.
- You gain a broader understanding of how the business operates, including budgeting, resource allocation, and performance analysis.
4. **Skill Development**
- Managing a team helps you strengthen key skills like communication, conflict resolution, decision-making, and time management.
- You also develop problem-solving and adaptability skills, as managing a team often involves handling unexpected challenges.
5. **Job Satisfaction**
- Successfully leading a team and achieving business goals can be highly rewarding.
- Seeing your team grow and succeed under your guidance brings a strong sense of accomplishment.
**Challenges of Being a Manager**
1. **Increased Responsibility and Pressure**
- You are accountable for the performance of your team and the success or failure of projects.
- Stress levels can be high, especially when facing tight deadlines, budget cuts, or performance issues.
2. **Managing People is Complex**
- Dealing with different personalities, conflicts, and motivation levels can be difficult.
- You may have to make tough decisions, like letting someone go or handling underperformance.
3. **Work-Life Balance Can Suffer**
- Managers often work longer hours, take work home, and deal with work issues outside of normal hours.
- Achieving a healthy work-life balance can be difficult, especially in high-stakes industries.
4. **Navigating Company Politics**
- Managers often have to balance the expectations of senior leadership with the needs of their team.
- Office politics and competing priorities can complicate decision-making.
5. **Constant Pressure to Perform**
- You need to meet team goals, financial targets, and performance metrics regularly.
- Underperforming teams reflect on you, even if the issues are beyond your control.
**Types of Management Roles**
- **People Manager** – Focused on hiring, training, motivating, and evaluating team members.
- **Project Manager** – Focused on managing timelines, resources, and goals for specific projects.
- **Operations Manager** – Oversees day-to-day operations, ensuring processes run smoothly.
- **Product Manager** – Manages the development and launch of products, aligning teams and resources.
- **Sales/Marketing Manager** – Oversees sales or marketing teams, setting targets and measuring success.
**What Makes a Good Manager**
✅ Strong communication and listening skills
✅ Ability to motivate and inspire
✅ Strategic thinking and decision-making
✅ Adaptability and problem-solving skills
✅ Empathy and emotional intelligence
✅ Ability to delegate effectively
✅ Resilience under pressure
**Would It Be a Good Career for You?**
- If you enjoy working with people, solving problems, and taking on leadership roles, management could be a good fit.
- If you thrive in high-pressure environments and can make difficult decisions confidently, you may excel as a manager.
- If you prefer working independently or dislike handling conflict, management may not be the best path.
Bottom Line:** Being a manager offers the potential for career growth, influence, and higher pay—but it comes with significant responsibility, stress, and people-related challenges. The key to success is mastering both strategic decision-making and interpersonal leadership.
Being a manager as a career can be rewarding and challenging at the same time. It involves more than just overseeing tasks—it’s about leading people, making decisions, and driving the success of a team or an organization. Here’s a detailed look at what it’s like to be a manager:
**Pros of Being a Manager**
1. **Leadership and Influence**
- You have the ability to shape the direction of a team and influence company strategy.
- You can motivate and mentor employees, helping them develop their skills and reach their potential.
2. **Career Growth and Higher Pay**
- Management roles often come with higher salaries, bonuses, and better benefits.
- There are usually more opportunities for promotion and upward mobility.
3. **Strategic Involvement**
- You contribute to decision-making at a higher level, influencing business outcomes and long-term goals.
- You gain a broader understanding of how the business operates, including budgeting, resource allocation, and performance analysis.
4. **Skill Development**
- Managing a team helps you strengthen key skills like communication, conflict resolution, decision-making, and time management.
- You also develop problem-solving and adaptability skills, as managing a team often involves handling unexpected challenges.
5. **Job Satisfaction**
- Successfully leading a team and achieving business goals can be highly rewarding.
- Seeing your team grow and succeed under your guidance brings a strong sense of accomplishment.
**Challenges of Being a Manager**
1. **Increased Responsibility and Pressure**
- You are accountable for the performance of your team and the success or failure of projects.
- Stress levels can be high, especially when facing tight deadlines, budget cuts, or performance issues.
2. **Managing People is Complex**
- Dealing with different personalities, conflicts, and motivation levels can be difficult.
- You may have to make tough decisions, like letting someone go or handling underperformance.
3. **Work-Life Balance Can Suffer**
- Managers often work longer hours, take work home, and deal with work issues outside of normal hours.
- Achieving a healthy work-life balance can be difficult, especially in high-stakes industries.
4. **Navigating Company Politics**
- Managers often have to balance the expectations of senior leadership with the needs of their team.
- Office politics and competing priorities can complicate decision-making.
5. **Constant Pressure to Perform**
- You need to meet team goals, financial targets, and performance metrics regularly.
- Underperforming teams reflect on you, even if the issues are beyond your control.
**Types of Management Roles**
- **People Manager** – Focused on hiring, training, motivating, and evaluating team members.
- **Project Manager** – Focused on managing timelines, resources, and goals for specific projects.
- **Operations Manager** – Oversees day-to-day operations, ensuring processes run smoothly.
- **Product Manager** – Manages the development and launch of products, aligning teams and resources.
- **Sales/Marketing Manager** – Oversees sales or marketing teams, setting targets and measuring success.
**What Makes a Good Manager**
✅ Strong communication and listening skills
✅ Ability to motivate and inspire
✅ Strategic thinking and decision-making
✅ Adaptability and problem-solving skills
✅ Empathy and emotional intelligence
✅ Ability to delegate effectively
✅ Resilience under pressure
**Would It Be a Good Career for You?**
- If you enjoy working with people, solving problems, and taking on leadership roles, management could be a good fit.
- If you thrive in high-pressure environments and can make difficult decisions confidently, you may excel as a manager.
- If you prefer working independently or dislike handling conflict, management may not be the best path.
Bottom Line:** Being a manager offers the potential for career growth, influence, and higher pay—but it comes with significant responsibility, stress, and people-related challenges. The key to success is mastering both strategic decision-making and interpersonal leadership.
Updated
Nulee’s Answer
Hi Megan,
This is interesting question! Let me start by explaining that there are multiple levels of management in my industry, including positions like manager, senior manager, and director, among others. Each of these roles carries different responsibilities, even within the same firm.
Reflecting on my personal experience, I can share some insights about my role as a manager. On a daily basis, I provide guidance to staff members and coordinate efforts across different teams. When I was at the staff level, I was given tasks to complete, which were then reviewed by the manager. Now, as a manager, I am responsible for distributing tasks, guiding staff through their work, offering constructive feedback, and collaborating with other teams to ensure we achieve our broader goals.
Additionally, I report to leadership on current progress and seek advice when necessary. I hope these insights help clarify the responsibilities and dynamics of a managerial role.
This is interesting question! Let me start by explaining that there are multiple levels of management in my industry, including positions like manager, senior manager, and director, among others. Each of these roles carries different responsibilities, even within the same firm.
Reflecting on my personal experience, I can share some insights about my role as a manager. On a daily basis, I provide guidance to staff members and coordinate efforts across different teams. When I was at the staff level, I was given tasks to complete, which were then reviewed by the manager. Now, as a manager, I am responsible for distributing tasks, guiding staff through their work, offering constructive feedback, and collaborating with other teams to ensure we achieve our broader goals.
Additionally, I report to leadership on current progress and seek advice when necessary. I hope these insights help clarify the responsibilities and dynamics of a managerial role.