The Manager Squeeze: How the New Workplace Is Testing Team Leaders
Read time: 2 min
Big Idea
The role of managers has become increasingly challenging due to shifts in business needs, employee disengagement, and the complexities of remote and hybrid work, requiring better leadership communication, training, and community support to prevent burnout and improve job satisfaction.
Top Thoughts
Managers are more likely to feel disengaged and burned out, struggling with additional job responsibilities, team restructuring, and budget cuts.
Increase managerial support structures to protect their role as the bridge between leadership and the workforce and make allowance for added pressures in strategic planning and resource allocation.
Industries like technology and finance are experiencing higher-than-average layoffs, creating a more stressful environment. Focus on employee needs, like well-being and engagement, to retain talent.
Remote work offers advantages like cost reduction and talent pool expansion but requires more effort from managers in coordination, teamwork, and culture.
Only 48% of managers surveyed believe they have the skills needed to excel. Focus development efforts on providing training to manage hybrid teams and optimize employee engagement.
Managers lack support, and only three in ten feel adequately informed by their supervisors. Foster better communication channels and create a community of shared accountability to support managers effectively.
Quick Quotes
"Managers are more likely than non-managers to be disengaged at work, burned out, looking for a new job, feeling like their organization does not care about their wellbeing."
"When Gallup asked managers what changes their organization made in 2023, 64% said 'employees were given additional job responsibilities,' 51% cited the 'restructuring of teams,' and 42% reported 'budget cuts.'"
"Economic uncertainty has led to layoff fears in some industries. While only 12% of leaders and managers report that their company is reducing their workforce in 2023, specific industries like technology and finance have been disproportionately affected by layoffs at rates higher than the national average."
"It can be difficult for managers to ask for help. But taking the time to connect with them, checking on their wellbeing and showing genuine concern will foster trust and encourage them to share their experiences."
"Managers need to feel that their own team supports them. When a team truly takes shared accountability for their success and culture, managers can shift their focus to empowering their team to succeed rather than constantly putting out fires or doing the work themselves."
Actionable Advice
Improve leadership communication - Improve communication channels to provide clear and consistent information about organizational changes, expectations, and goals to increase alignment and lessen stress.
Prioritize wellbeing and engagement - Implement initiatives focused on work-life balance, clarifying job roles, and connecting work to organizational goals to improve engagement, well-being and retain talent.
Provide managerial support - Managers feel isolated and unsupported, affecting their performance and satisfaction. Create a managerial community to share best practices, discuss challenges, and provide emotional support, eg. mentorship programs, regular managerial meetups, and team-building exercises.
Source(s)
Wigert, B., & Barrett, H. (2023, Sep 6). The Manager Squeeze: How the New Workplace Is Testing Team Leaders. [Web article]. Gallup. (Link)
