Middle managers often carry a heavier load than front-line leaders and even executives. Caught between the demands of executives and the needs of their front-line managers, middle management can be stretched uncomfortably thin. Daily, they must be responsive to executives while also ensuring everyone below them is equipped to execute on company objectives.
Yet, only 20% of managers surveyed feel their organizations support them with the tools they need to be successful people managers, according to McKinsey. The same survey showed that 44% feel organizational bureaucracy negatively affects their roles: too much time is devoted to emails, meetings, and approval processes.
With the right support and access to leadership development opportunities, middle managers can build the skills they need to excel in their roles.
In this article on middle manager training and development, we’ll explore:
- The pressures unique to middle management
- Why middle managers are essential to organizational success
- Essential skills for middle managers to build for success
- Exploring the benefits of manager training and development
The pressures unique to middle management
As a middle manager, you’re constantly trying to balance the needs of front-line managers and employees with the priorities of upper management. In many cases, you must lead without clear direction from above and offer clarity to those below you in the face of frustrating ambiguity.
If you can relate to this, you’re not alone. These challenges are having a significant impact on middle managers, with 89% experiencing burnout, 34% revealing they don’t feel fulfilled in their current roles, and 74% actively looking for a new role, according to Human Resource Director Canada.
Along with their regular daily workload, middle managers also see their teams burning out and must lead while knowing their people are tired and weary of the status quo. It’s a stressful role, and one that doesn’t always include the soft skills training for managers that would help make this precarious role easier to navigate.
Everything from budget cuts to restructuring can ramp up frustration in managers and make their jobs that much more difficult. To make matters worse, middle managers are at the greatest risk of losing their jobs within companies undergoing layoffs, according to Gallup.
Why middle managers are essential to organizational success
It would be wise for companies to evaluate just how big an impact their middle managers have on operations before they underestimate their overall value to the organization.
As a manager, you recognize the crucial role of this position as a go-between, connecting front-line workers with senior leaders who shape organizational strategy. The reality is, without this level of management, leaders could struggle to execute their strategies and carry out the tasks that keep the company running efficiently.
The unique position of middle management allows you to be directly involved in influencing and assessing employee performance, as well as motivating teams and individuals to meet company goals. You’re also influential in hiring, company reputation, and retention. A strong, skilled middle manager can help a company keep and inspire its best performers.
The bottom line? Companies that don’t support their middle managers in resources and skill development could see poor execution of organizational goals and higher turnover. Avoiding this is critical to talent attraction, retention, and engagement efforts.
Essential skills for middle managers to build for success
Effective strategies to help middle management succeed must include both soft skills training for managers as well as leadership development opportunities. This combination will help you manage the expectations of your leadership team while also growing in your ability to lead, nurture, and inspire others.
Some of the critical skills for middle managers include:
- Communication skills to influence all levels of leadership
- Financial acumen to understand and improve efficiencies in your department
- The ability to manage workflow and improve systems
- Emotional intelligence to navigate complex situations and manage stress
- Problem-solving skills to lead even without complete information
- Leadership skills to guide and motivate teams to achieve common goals
- Team building capabilities to strengthen the group of managers you lead
These skills enable middle managers to navigate complex people dynamics and confidently lead teams, even without clear direction from above. They also set managers up to communicate with executives and understand high-level company objectives, while relating to and supporting front-line managers in their responsibilities.
Exploring the benefits of manager training and development
While it’s clear that middle management requires a diverse set of skills and ongoing development to navigate ongoing challenges at work, research shows that many don’t feel well-supported.
Yet, it’s easy to see how imperative it is for companies to provide and encourage this support. The development of middle managers can reduce stress, improve how effectively a company meets its goals, and help retain high-performing employees.
Do any of these situations sound familiar?
- You feel pulled in different directions all day
- Decision-making feels like it comes with a great deal of uncertainty
- You spend a significant amount of time in meetings and answering emails
- You don’t get enough opportunities to really lead your team
If these feel like familiar territory, you may be a middle manager needing leadership development training that tackles the challenges you face every day. With an investment in your skills and capabilities, you are more likely to have a positive impact on your role today and be more ready to step up when the opportunity arises.
With the right skills, you could strengthen the connections with your front-line managers, drive better performance across your team, and manage competing demands with less pressure. If you are a middle manager and would like to learn more about your options for leadership development designed specifically for your role, schedule a call today