Not only must managers provide inspirational leadership and support to their staff – which has become increasingly challenging amid the rise of remote working – but they are also charged with making the big-picture decisions that pave the way to business growth.
A large part of the reason why some managers are failing to win the hearts and minds of their reports is a lack of training.
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In fact, 2023 figures from, Chartered Management Institute reveal 82% of those who enter management positions have not had any proper management and leadership training – they are 'accidental managers'. Many are promoted because of their functional expertise, but then left to ‘sink or swim’ when it comes to actual management.
Make no mistake, good management is a real skill. However, in far too many instances, business leaders are expecting managers to succeed without the proper training required to do so. After all, they wouldn’t expect an untrained, rookie salesperson to hit the same figures as a sales veteran, so why should they expect managers who’ve not received training to perform just as well as those who have?
If they hope to get the very best results from their managers – and, by extension, the teams for which they’re responsible – business leaders must make sure that they are given the correct training for fulfilling all the requirements of their role, effectively helping them to transcend the title of ‘manager’ to become bona fide ‘leaders’ in their own right.
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After all, people follow leaders who set the culture and behaviours within their organisation, they do not follow managers who are simply there to micromanage them to nth degree. This does not simply mean honing their organisational skills and their ability to delegate effectively – which are undoubtedly important traits – but also ensuring that managers are self-aware, emotionally intelligent and have all the tools they need to support their teams. This approach would enable managers to open up new lines of dialogue with workers, making them much more approachable, and greatly improving their perception among staff.
If they fail to provide this level of training, however, leaders can hardly be surprised if teams underperform because managers have failed to properly understand employees and adapt their management styles appropriately to get the best results from them.
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As companies across the UK continue to recover from Covid and navigate choppy economic seas, their success will hinge largely on the ability of their managers to instil a culture of excellence in their teams that encourages both the highest standards of productivity and engagement. With the knowledge and skills needed to thrive, managers will not only become better equipped to carry out their roles but will be placed on the path to becoming the business leaders of tomorrow.
