In the meantime, plan on spending at least six months preparing for a successful jump to management. During those six months, you ll want to take on new projects, spruce up your qualifications, change your image, and change your relationship with your boss. Talk to your hierarchy of bosses and let them know that you are interesting in moving up. And this is important - don't just talk to your immediate supervisor. If your boss has a boss, talk to that person, too, so that people all the way up the food chain can start re-thinking your position within the company.
Most managers are surprised to hear that their employees want to move up.
Change is never easy, and that s why you want to get everyone on your side. While you re talking with your boss, ask to be put in charge of small leadership projects. Be just a little bit pushy about it. For example, if you re a system administrator, ask to head up contract negotiations with vendors. Or ask to be put in charge of an onerous project that management would love to give away.