Managers have the biggest impact on their team's productivity, engagement, retention, wellbeing and more. Research highlights the tangible benefits of good management - according to Gallup, great managers can boost profitability by an incredible 48 percent.
Additionally, Gartner's 2023 study shows that employees under effective managers are 15 times more likely to excel and three times more likely to stay with their company.
Yet, more than 80 percent of managers are what we call 'accidental managers.'
The Accidental Manager
Many professionals climb the career ladder and land managerial roles because it's perceived as the primary path for advancement. Many are promoted due to their technical skills and ability to do their job really well. However, not everyone is naturally suited to management and able to make the shift required to be successful in their new position.
Without proper guidance, support and skills development, these individuals struggle, impacting their teams and the broader organisation. They find themselves in managerial positions due to their technical expertise rather than their people management skills, often without any formal training or assessment, creating a problematic scenario.
What Do We Mean by Bad Managers?
Most managers don't set out to be bad at their jobs. Instead, a lack of development and positive role models fosters harmful behaviours that negatively impact performance, motivation, and engagement. Signs of poor management include:
The Cost of Poor Management
Not investing in your managers can have costly consequences for individuals, teams and the entire organisation. A study by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) found that the quality of line management directly impacts on your employees' health and wellbeing. Effective managers who provide appropriate feedback, support, and development, lead happier, healthier, and higher-performing teams.
Further research by Training Industry in 2020 revealed that employees with ineffective managers were unproductive for 10-52 percent of their day. This unproductivity accumulates, significantly impacting business performance. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) estimates that bad managers costs UK businesses £84 billion annually due to:
Why Investing in Management Training is so Important
Creating and empowering great managers requires time and investment, but the returns are substantial. Numerous learning and development tools, resources, and courses are available, so it's important to choose the ones that align with your organisation's and learners' needs and objectives.
Training should be accessible and flexible, including a range of formats that can be accessed at a time and pace that suits the learner. It should also be practical and applicable to real-life scenarios, allowing managers to implement what they learn quickly and start to have an impact.
At Peritus Learning, we offer two great solutions to upskill your managers:
ILM Online
We are an ILM (Institute of Leadership and Management) approved center, offering high-quality, accredited courses for new and existing managers. We offer ILM level 3 and 5 fully online, so they can be completed at a time and pace that suits each employee, making it easier for managers to balance learning with their daily responsibilities. Learn more.
Learn to Lead
Learn to Lead is a collection of interactive modules that can be used to create courses and personalised pathways for managers, and are non-accredited. They come in SCORM file format to add to your LMS, and with unlimited use across any number of employees. Learn more.
We can also provide advice on your strategy, and solutions for microlearning, Learning Management System (LMS), and bespoke training. Get in touch today and discover how we can help your organisation cultivate great managers who drive success, growth, and foster a positive work environment.