The 6 Things That Make Managers Hate Their Jobs Less

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by Sarah Lynch

Here’s what business leaders and experts say can make a positive difference for overwhelmed and burned-out managers.

Managers are overwhelmed, but a few crucial changes could help them enjoy — or, at the very least, not resent — their jobs.

Since the pandemic, “no one’s job has changed more” than the manager‘s, says Joe Galvin, chief research officer at executive coaching organization Vistage. Many were tasked with managing hybrid workforces for the first time. They had to scramble to find and retain workers during the Great Resignation. And they’re feeling the brunt of economic headwinds, too, he says.

About three-quarters of HR leaders say that managers are “overwhelmed by the growth of their responsibilities,” according to Gartner, the research and consulting firm. This year, almost half (47 percent) of managers were burned out, according to LinkedIn — more than individual contributors or directors.

And yet, managers play a critical role in their organizations, determining 70 percent of the “variance in team engagement,” Gallup has found. Fortunately, there are shifts that can make managers’ jobs easier and more satisfying, according to business leaders and management experts.

1. Fewer reports

Forty-four percent of middle managers agree that “organizational bureaucracy” can negatively impact their roles, says Emily Field, McKinsey partner and author of Power to the Middle: Why Managers Hold the Keys to the Future of Work. But CEOs can help get rid of the red tape.

For instance, when it comes to the monthly organizational reports that managers so often must complete, CEOs should consider: “Do we read those reports?” Field says. “What are the reports we can simply delete? And for the reports that actually are beneficial, how do we create them as efficiently as possible?”

It’s not just paperwork that can pile up. Generally speaking, when leaders are coming up with strategies to help managers, that can often manifest in more work for managers, Field says — and this should be avoided. “Instead of asking, ‘What can I add to help my managers?’ ask, ‘What can I take away to help my managers?'”

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Practicing These 3 Good Habits for the Rest of Your Life Will Be a Difference Maker

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  by Marcel Schwantes

The challenge with forming good habits for success is picking the right ones. Here are three to consider.

One of the most valuable insights into life and success revolves around the underestimated power of habits. It’s often said that people don’t fully appreciate just how important habits are until they get older.

As we age, we realize how difficult it can be to change habits, especially those ingrained over decades. This is why it’s crucial to form the right habits early on.

The challenge with forming good habits is picking the right ones! Not all habits are the same; some help us grow and achieve, while others hold us back and make us feel unsatisfied.

So, what’s the key? It’s to identify habits that match our values and long-term goals and nurture them intentionally. Here are three to consider:

1. Living with integrity

Living and working with integrity brings significant benefits, both personally and professionally. When you operate with integrity, people trust you. They know you’re reliable and ethical and won’t cut corners. This trust helps build stronger relationships with colleagues, clients, and customers. Furthermore, maintaining integrity enhances your reputation, opening up new opportunities and advancing your career. Investor Warren Buffett once said, “In looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. And if they don’t have the first one, the other two will kill you.”

2. Getting smarter each day

Embracing a growth mindset and making a commitment to lifelong learning are really important habits for success. Think about how you can go to bed a little smarter each day, because when you do, it leads to greater achievements. For example, regular reading and learning can make a big difference in your personal and professional life. The saying “the more you learn, the more you’ll earn” really shows how valuable education and self-improvement are.

3. Simplifying your life

Keeping things simple can lead to long-term success and financial security. Instead of splurging and getting into unnecessary debt, focusing on saving and investing is a great idea these days. Many successful people use their resources to help others, rather than just chasing after personal riches. This shows that living modestly can truly make a positive impact on society.

By embracing the power of simple habits and consciously cultivating the right ones, we can set ourselves on a path to success, fulfillment, and a life well-lived.

 

Source: Inc.com

how do you measure success

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Success is something that everyone in any career field would like to achieve. Success may mean different things to different people.

 

 

Here are some perspectives:

 

Success is by the Lives that you positively touch. Encouragement, caring, training, correcting, helping through tough times, being jubilant in good times.

Success is by the lives of those you can call your friends.

 Karl Sachsenmaier, Associate Partner, IBM

 

Great question…and not easy to answer.  Are we talking about personal success, business success or something else?  For me success is first about family…love, support, and their success as they measure it.  Second, it would be about friends, the depth of those relationships and helping friends achieve their success. Business success would be about understanding one’s talents and passions and finding  a way to enjoy them while providing for family.

 

Rich deMoll, Senior Advisory Board Member

 

If I were to try to try to summarize how I measure success I would say it is a consistent measure of an inconsistent target.  The measure of success is making a difference.

          The target can vary by person though.  On society.  In the firm.  On one person’s life.  I think the reason why people ask the question about how to measure success is that variability.

Just my two cents.

Charles Arnold | Principal, KPMG Consulting

 

 We would welcome your thoughts/input, for our next blog on success.

Sincerely,

Larry Janis

Managing Partner I Integrated Search Solutions Group

P-516-767-3030

How to balance your priorities at work

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by Shanna A. Hocking

 

One of the most challenging parts of adjusting from being an individual contributor to becoming a leader is learning how to balance your team’s priorities and needs with your own projects and work.

When I first made this transition many years ago, I believed that always being available for my team was the best way to show team members I valued them. But I found myself getting further behind on my own work. So I would spend evenings at home catching up on my projects. I ended up feeling burned out and pulled in many directions. As I grappled with my own uncertainties about how to “do it all,” I also worried that senior management would determine I wasn’t ready to be a leader after all.

Though many managers feel uncertain about how to simultaneously support their team’s priorities and complete their own work, it’s not something that’s talked about openly. I often remind the senior leaders I coach that the purpose of a team is to achieve more than any one individual can, and that leaders should give themselves the same compassion they offer to their team members.

Learning how to balance your team’s priorities and your own sets you and the team up for success. Here’s what I recommend to effectively manage both aspects of your role:

Communicate consistently with your team

Start by developing a comprehensive understanding of what your team is working on and what they need from you. You can do this through one-on-one meetings with individual team members and collectively through team and project meetings.

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Frustrated at work? How to decide if you should stay, pivot, or quit

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by Kate Wieczorek

 

Feeling occasional job frustration is normal. However, when the bad days start to outnumber the good, it’s time to assess how to improve your work life.

 

Identify The Root Cause

First, determine what caused the frustration. Figuring out the reason will provide insight into which actions to take. Scenarios triggering work frustration could include:

  • Going through an organizational change
  • Being overworked and unappreciated
  • Navigating a new boss dynamic
  • Experiencing boredom
  • Given false promotion promises
  • Dealing with a toxic work culture
  • Feeling overwhelmed in a new job

Next, have a conversation with your boss. Great leaders want to know when their subordinates are unhappy. Collaborating with your manager on opportunities to alleviate job dissatisfaction builds a strong working relationship.

The Case For Staying
A successful conversation with your boss ends with a clearly defined action plan detailing specific check-in points and deadlines. Strong leaders and companies recognize the importance of keeping employees happy. It is worthwhile to stay and see if the changes result in increased happiness and less frustration.

Change is difficult to navigate. It can take three months, sometimes up to a year, to adjust to a new job. Company culture changes can take multiple years to fully integrate within a business. Be compassionate and evaluate if the negative aspects subside as you acclimate to a new way of working.

Time To Pivot
If multiple conversations with your leader did not yield an improved work experience, transferring departments or roles is an appealing possibility. Utilize your access to various departments and explore different opportunities. Gain unique insights through collaborating on projects together, job shadowing, or chatting over coffee.

Conduct extensive self-reflection and identify your career non-negotiables. Would you be okay with increasing your workload if a role piqued your interest? How would a lateral move align with your long-term career goals? What if a new role required different work hours? Gathering data and self-assessing will improve the likelihood of renewed job satisfaction in another role.

If pivoting internally is the right decision, create a clear transition plan. Allocate time to offload your current responsibilities and onboard into the new profession. Confirm with all stakeholders on the final date of transition and overall expectations. This mitigates the risk of executing two jobs on one salary.

Knowing When To Quit
Quitting is the best option when there is a lack of career growth prospects, misalignment of job tasks with your work interests, or the overall work environment is not improving. Changing jobs is normal. American workers will have on average 12 occupations during their lifetime, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. One job experience lends itself to another, curating skills that form your unique career portfolio.

Always look elsewhere if you find yourself in a toxic work environment. Never remain at a company solely to justify an ‘acceptable’ tenure. The long-lasting impact on your mental and physical well-being is not worth it. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, more than 44 million Americans quit their job in 2023. You deserve an improved work experience and to feel happy again.

Feeling frustrated at work isn’t always detrimental. It may indicate that a higher-level role, different workplace culture, or a new industry would be a better fit. Ultimately, it’s a sign to reassess your current job against your career needs. Acknowledge how you feel while recognizing that options exist to improve a challenging situation.

 

Source: forbes.com