10 Best Answers to “Why Do You Want to Be a Manager”

“Why do you want to be a manager?” is one of the most common interview questions that a hiring manager will ask during the interview process for a management position. Using specific examples from difficult situations or where you’ve had a great leader is the best way to give a good answer.

Here are 10 sample answers to prepare new managers to apply for a future management role and show strong leadership skills.

10 Best Answers to “Why Do You Want to Be a Manager?”

#1. To Create a Productive, Respectful Workplace

Key Skills: Communication Skills, Understanding, and Respect for the Team

Sample Answer:
As a manager, I would have the opportunity to nurture a productive, respectful workplace culture through effective communication and mutual respect. I believe that by exemplifying these qualities, I can serve as an example for my team and inspire them to be their best. Moreover, communication and respect are key elements that form the foundation of successful teams.

As a manager, I can apply my skills in these areas to foster collaboration between teams and help lead the overall organization toward its goals. Overall, through communication, respect, and leading by example, I feel that I can make a positive impact in the workplace with my managerial capabilities.

#2. To Lead Successful Projects and Maximize Team Potential

Key Skills: Open-Mindedness, Hands-On Experience, Charismatic Inspiration, and Problem-Solving

Sample Answer:
I am interested in becoming a manager because I possess the professional qualifications and experience needed to ensure success. I thrive in organizational settings and have the ability to clearly set goals while keeping staff motivated and on target. My past positions have demonstrated my leadership capabilities, resulting in successful projects and teams that maximized their potential.

I am also confident that my interpersonal skills will allow me to communicate effectively with colleagues at all levels of the organization. As a manager, I want to continue to use my strengths to develop better workplace management strategies, generate innovative solutions for problems, create team-building activities and increase overall organizational productivity.

#3. To Foster a Culture of Excellence and Collaboration

Key Skills: Trustworthiness, Stress Management, and Empathetic Understanding

Sample Answer:
Being a manager presents a challenging opportunity to not only guide and direct employees but to build relationships of trust, create effective stress management strategies, and maximize performance through empowering leadership. In today’s ever-changing business landscape, the ability to effectively motivate staff with trust and confidence is an invaluable asset for achieving success in any organization.

Furthermore, developing innovative solutions for stress management that foster employee engagement, morale, and job satisfaction is vital for building an effective team to meet organizational goals. With a passion for inspiring excellence and fostering collaboration between teams, I am excited by the possibility of leveraging my skillset as a manager toward creating meaningful change within the workplace environment.

#4. To Build Effective Teams on the Cutting Edge of Industry

Key Skills: Team-Building, Delegation, and Organizational Skills

Sample Answer:
I am driven to become a manager because I have a strong desire to lead effective teams, motivate others and be able to manage resources to achieve organizational goals. I take pride in helping others develop their skills and experience and building a team of successful employees.

I also have an understanding of industry trends and know that at the core of being a successful manager are the skills and talents to develop plans and strategies for long-term success. I value the opportunity to work collaboratively with all stakeholders to provide the best outcomes.

Being a manager also allows me to remain at the cutting edge of new technologies, tools, and processes. It also allows me to develop new skills that can be used for competitive advantage within the organization. Working in the capacity of a leadership role provides a platform for me to make decisions independently but also from team discussions.

In this role, I gain insight from the whole team that contributes towards company success.

#5. To Lead Creative Initiatives That Propel the Company to New Heights

Key Skills: Charisma, Communication Skills, and Confidence

Sample Answer:
I have been an enthusiastic, hardworking employee for many years, and I believe that my ability to motivate and guide others, combined with my charisma and confidence, make me an excellent candidate and will help me to become a great manager and an effective leader. In the new role, I am eager to utilize my experience in helping teams to achieve success by enabling those around me to do their best work.

As a first-time manager, I will seek to lead creative initiatives that challenge teams to strive for greatness and guide them toward new heights. My natural communication skills ensure effective organizational progress-facilitating positive working relationships with colleagues that promote problem-solving strategies as well as growth opportunities dedicated to improving our organizations’ performance.

Additionally, I bring enthusiasm, and prioritization skill sets essential in managing complex projects while still keeping track of finances and metrics necessary for successful operations. I respect that in this managerial role, I will have a lot of responsibility and will need to put in long hours and work to continue to develop my leadership skills and management style.

With this set of characteristics and commitment to learning and improvement, I am confident that I am the best potential manager among the applicants and that I can help foster a productive atmosphere by delivering quality results consistently and in an efficient manner.

#6. To Grow Teams That Achieve Goals and Boost Earnings

Key Skills: Problem-solving, Assertiveness, and Confidence

Sample Answer:
I want this manager position because I am highly motivated to contribute to the company’s bottom line by identifying issues, applying analytical and problem-solving skills, communicating solutions, and implementing them effectively. Being able to anticipate, identify, mitigate or eliminate any problems or risks that could limit the goals of the organization is essential for me.

I want to work somewhere for a long time in a role where I can contribute to a positive work culture and both assist and learn from senior managers as I seek to build a long-term career path with this company. Additionally, my leadership skills and experience enable me to foster positive relationships with team members, so everyone feels inspired to act toward achieving organizational objectives.

With great problem-solving skills at my disposal, I hope to contribute as a valuable asset in any professional capacity in which I find myself.

#7. To Guide and Inspire People to Meet Their Full Potential

Key Skills: Goal Setting, Delegation, and Time Management

Sample Answer:
As a manager, I am driven by the challenge of developing and leading a team of people to reach their utmost potential. Through effective goal-setting and time management, I strive to create a strong employee culture that is focused on collaboration, integrity, and professionalism.

My passion for people and understanding of short-term and long-term goals has allowed me to consistently perform at my best during times of high pressure. I believe in always putting the team’s success first and being an advocate for employees to take the initiative to solve problems quickly and efficiently.

I proactively support this by delegating tasks based on team members’ strengths and expertise. Not only will I use this role as an opportunity to further my professional development, but I will also promote the growth of others within the company and our community.

#8. To Develop Stronger Organizational Capabilities and Productivity

Key Skills: Delegation, Open-Mindedness, Trustworthiness, and Respect for the Team

Sample Answer:
As a manager, I understand the importance of building trust, delegating work appropriately, and fostering an environment of mutual respect. These three tenets are essential for developing a team into a cohesive and successful unit. My goal is to be able to provide guidance and support that will enable my subordinates to reach their fullest potential professionally within our company.

I also want to ensure that there is clear communication between staff members from all levels within the organization so that everyone is aware of their responsibilities while at the same time being productive in reaching desirable ends. Ultimately, these qualities make me an ideal candidate for any managerial position.

I am confident that with these skills and my dedication toward organizational goals, I will prove to be a valuable asset to your team.

#9. To Foster Efficiency and Morale Leading to Goal Attainment

Key Skills: Conflict Management, Empathy, and Open-Mindedness

Sample Answer:
As a manager, I strive to use my managerial qualities of empathy and conflict management to create an effective work environment. These skills are essential for ensuring productivity and morale among employees, achieving common goals in the workplace, and providing honest feedback.

My empathy will enable me to relate to staff on a personal level, fostering trust and strong relationships that build morale and foster collaboration. I effectively handle conflicts within the team by understanding each employee’s motivations. This allows me to reach resolutions that benefit both parties while adhering to organizational policies. This approach sets an example of positive leadership and a model for those who report to me.

Ultimately, my goal is to ensure the success of my team by utilizing the strengths of its individual members and efficiently overcoming any challenges we may face.

#10. To Achieve Momentum in Growth and Success

Key Skills: Authentic Energy, Emotional Intelligence, and Decisiveness

Sample Answer:
A meaningful professional career is one where I can realize my greatest strengths and use them to contribute to the growth of an organization. I have a strong desire to become a manager with this company as I believe that I am a good fit for the company culture, and it is a great way for me to provide greater value as an individual contributor. In my current role, I have found that leading by example creates a great deal of momentum and positive energy with your team.

This is why it is a common value of the best managers. This, combined with my people management experience, is why I firmly believe that the most effective way to motivate employees is through compassionate and attentive management.

Authenticity is also key. I want to ensure that every team member feels valued for their hard work and, more importantly, heard if any issues arise. I am a hard worker who is committed to excellence in my work and personal life. I seek to support people in my team to become the best versions of themselves.

I am the kind of person who can relate to others and connect with them emotionally to help get the very best from them. Providing support from a place of understanding and purpose while instilling enthusiasm in others around me are two ways in which I will strive for excellence as an effective manager.

In addition to these attributes that I believe make me an ideal candidate, I have an additional and uncommon trait for a people-person in that I have a well-honed capacity for decisive decision-making. I can make my team feel heard without becoming complacent or paralyzed when it is time to make tough decisions.

5 Tips for a Winning Answer

• Be genuine and honest. You can’t fake your skills and traits if you get the job.
• Make eye contact. Don’t stare, but have the confidence to look at and address others directly.
• Smile, dress well and be friendly. All managers rely in part on being easily received by others.
• Sell yourself. You should relate your skills and achievements to what you offer the company.
• Talk about soft skills. Your technical skills should be listed on your resume and job experience.

5 Mistakes to Avoid

• Don’t fidget. Fidgeting in interviews shows a lack of confidence and looks disinterested.
• Don’t be late. Being late will cast doubt on your time management skills.
• Don’t criticize past colleagues. Being critical of others reflects poorly on you as a candidate.
• Don’t have poor hygiene. If you can’t show self-care, you won’t be trusted to care for a team.
• Don’t show weaknesses. Even when asked, avoid discussing any weakness that will negatively affect the role.

Top 10 Critical Skills for Managers:

Communication Skills
Decisiveness
Delegation
Emotional Intelligence
Goal Setting
Organization Skills
Support/Enabler
Team-Building
Time Management
Trustworthiness

Additional Skills for Managers:
Assertiveness
Approachability
Authenticity
Charisma
Confidence
Conflict Management
Empathy
Energy
Experience
Motivator
Inspiring People
Leadership
Open-mindedness
Passion
Problem-Solving
Respect for the Team
Stress Management
Understanding

Conclusion

The difference between a good manager and a good leader is that not all leaders are managers, but all good managers should be leaders. For this reason, it is the responsibility of managers throughout their career development to become the best leaders that they possibly can be. If it is your first time applying for a management role, this is a good chance to talk about your past experiences that have developed your management skills so far, but also your intent to learn from more senior managers throughout your career advancement.

Finally, when applying for a first-time role, you are rarely expected to always have the right answer to each question. Just be patient and confident and take your time to avoid giving a bad answer. If you have thought ahead of some good reasons you want to be a manger and have practiced your answers to these questions, and there’s a good chance that you will be taking your first step into management in no time.