The Best Age to Become a Boss

How long does it take to become a boss?

On average, people need about three years of professional experience to become a manager, on top of the time it takes to earn a degree, go through formal training or get a certificate. Considering that most education programs and certification courses span at least a few years, it’s common for people to require six to eight years of formal education and work experience before becoming a boss.

That said, there is no one-size-fits-all path to becoming a leader. It takes time to develop the skills you need to perform well at your job. No matter your industry, you’ll need to get comfortable with all kinds of processes and requirements before you can confidently lead other people and earn respect from your employees. That might be why, according to research from Zippia, 65% of bosses are at least 40 years old. Of course, there are plenty of younger and older bosses as well.

What education leads to becoming a boss?

How well your education background will benefit your career goals depends on the industry in which you operate and how well the skills you learn during your education translate to the work. There are business owners and managers with experience in just about every field of study. However, there are some degrees that tend to be more popular among people who are now leaders in their companies.

Based on Zippia’s research, business degrees were the most popular among people who are bosses today, with 23% of bosses holding one. General studies, criminal justice and communication were the next three most popular majors among bosses in their current workplaces. 

Zippia also found that higher education significantly boosts your chances of becoming a boss; the survey found that 37.3% of bosses have at least a bachelor’s degree, while 26.7% of bosses have only a high school diploma. Interestingly, though, only 5.6% of bosses held a master’s degree, suggesting that more higher education isn’t always better.

How to develop leadership skills

Even if you have all the education, skills and experience, leading other people requires more than just being good at your job. Below are some ways to develop leadership skills that can help you be a great leader.

1. Participate in more projects. In your current position, consider taking on more projects and increasing your responsibilities. This way, you can get more accustomed to managing a greater workload while still maintaining your productivity and your communication with your co-workers. But as you consider taking on more projects, don’t forget about your work-life balance. Maintaining a sustainable workload is also important.
2. Practice active listening. Being a leader requires more than overseeing a team and giving employees instructions. A large part of being an effective leader is knowing how to listen. As a result, employees and managers who actively listen often have better working relationships. You should always consider your employees’ perspectives and be open to their feedback. This way, your company can work for your employees too, not just the other way around.
3. Be open to learning. Even the most experienced leaders are still finding ways to expand their knowledge. New processes, trends and standards are constantly developing in nearly all industries. That’s why you should always seek out more knowledge. This way, you can learn new strategies to address challenges and stay atop any requirements that affect your job and the team you oversee.
4. Improve your self-discipline. Once you become a leader, you’ll often be responsible for creating goals, setting priorities, and managing and completing tasks. Being self-aware and disciplined can keep you, your team and your company on track. Try to be more intentional about setting goals for yourself (as well as deadlines). Track your progress, and as you complete your goals, keep setting more that will challenge you and help you reach new levels of leadership potential.

Finding a mentor to learn how to be a good boss

To cultivate effective leadership skills, take some time to think about your short- and long-term career goals. From there, you can look for a mentor who can guide you as you work toward your goals. Consider reaching out to your current manager, another leader within your company or someone you look up to professionally.

Try to connect with someone who has the type of leadership role you want to hold. Once you’ve identified this person (or people), you can ask them to share some advice and train you in key skills.

Be the best leader you can be, at any age

Many people need the earlier years of their careers to learn and hone the skills needed to be effective leaders. However, there’s no specific age (or age range) that’s perfect for becoming a boss. It’s more about making sure you’ve mastered key leadership skills. As you set goals for your path toward becoming a boss, try to be realistic about what you want to achieve. This way, you’re setting yourself up for long-term growth that’s sustainable for you – and productive for your future staff members.