How can I best prepare myself for a possible promotion, and what advice do you have for someone new to management?

I have recently been offered the chance to possibly take over a supervisor/assistant manager position in my department. While nothing is set in stone I was told I am the clear front runner. I am in competition with one other employee who if his attitude and interpersonal skills improve could beat me for the job, so while I’m ahead I don’t want to get complacent and risk my future on something that isn’t a sure thing. It’s a tight race and it’s important that I really show my worth and how best I could contribute to my team in the coming weeks.

I have never managed anything to the degree this promotion would require and so I am trying to improve as fast as possible and get the best handle on how I should go about doing some homework. I am also looking for some insight as to how any of you who have been in a similar post have dealt with situations that may arise, things to look out for, limits I should set for myself, and any advice you have in general.

If you have any book suggestions, general advice you think would apply to most situations I would appreciate your advice but I would also ask you read further for a better understanding of the department.

My department is part of a larger company that works as an Authorized Dealer for a national cell phone company. My department is at it’s most simplified a customer service/sales hybrid. We generally contact customers who have visited our stores and align their cell phones plans and features to fit their usage, eliminate overages, and retain them as customers in the long term. Our sales come from the features we ring out while reducing the customers overall cost.

With our individual gross profit (GP) we play motivational games for the whole week like golf, battle ship, poker, blackjack, candy land, bowling golf, bowling, etc. We usually play them on an hourly basis, sometimes as idnividuals and sometimes on teams of two or three. If we make a sale during an hour long period we take one turn or when as a team we reach $100—$200GP we can spend the GP for a turn. This keeps us making sales every hour and raises the overall morale. We can also win play money for the games if we’re the person whose sale bumps us over our daily goal milestones. Sometimes other offers are on the table. We can earn a free lunch if we hit a certain amount of total GP for the day, we can win milkshakes from our boss if we make a certain amount by 1PM, etc. There are a ton of prizes to be had, but we still struggle for motivation sometimes. I think this is in part due to prize overload and just a case of diminishing returns.

Now, for the last several months we have been doing Team Lead days, and more recently weeks. I have consistently led the team to satisfactory or excellent numbers on a daily basis while others have struggled. But there is always room for improvement – particularly when a promotion could be on the horizon.

My question then is for ideas on how to motivate others, for insight into your own management experience and what you wish you could have been prepared for, or if you have any books that may be of particular use to me at this time. I have a handful more lead weeks in store for me and I’d really like to shine.

Also, I think it’s important to mention that this is a small group, we all work in a row of cubicles within feet of each other and it’s a very relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Our boss sits with us and we joke around throughout the day. We are all friends and have hung out after work on many occasions. So it may be particularly difficult to step into an authoritative role, as my boss and I discussed we both believe it’s better to manage by example, kindness, and firm expectations rather than punishment and fear. I don’t intend to micromanage, we’re all excellent at what we do and are generally happy but if I can push us as a group a bit further I’d be not only able to improve my salary but my happiness and pride in my work and my colleagues. Any help, insight, advice or suggestions whatsoever would be absolutely appreciated!

And sorry, I know this is long as hell. :)