This is sort of difficult to explain...
I am currently a software engineer, and have been for about 10 years. I would like my next job to be the start of a new career in management. I have given this much thought and have researched different management techniques over the past year (Peopleware ftw!). I have good reason to believe that I would excel at developing, motivating, and jelling a team of software developers. I want to introduce enlightened management practices to a software development effort.
Anyway, since I have no management experience, I would like to start "building a case" that I would make a good manager so that when I apply for these types of job openings, I can refer to actions I have taken in my current role that show off certain aptitudes as evidence that I could be an effective manager. I don't foresee the opportunity for me to grow organically into this type of role at my current company, so I will most likely have to apply for an open management position in a different company.
Is there anything I can do in the workplace, in my current role as an individual contributor, to build the case that I would make a good manager?
Note my manager and I are the only software developers at this company, so having conversation about that with him would be a bit awkward and would sound like "I want your job". Note also, I don't foresee any growth of the software development group. I am aware that I will have to leave for my career to advance, but I could possibly be here for another year or two. During that time, I will do my job and do it well, but I'm looking for ideas on how I can also build management skills via particular actions or behaviors in the workplace. Does that make sense?