Middle Managers are frequently described as being the "bad guys" in business, even though this role is often the key to a company running smoothly. Research from Clear Company suggests that 48% of HR executives rank mid-level Managers as being one of the most important roles for a business. This is often overlooked due to the bad reputation middle managers have for not always being that easy to work with!
When you actually think about the pressure that comes with the role, that negative reputation can sometimes be understandable, even if it isn’t always true.
Clear Company found that even though a middle management role is crucial for a company’s success, 80% don't feel prepared for their day to day business challenges. It is vital that middle managers are given frequent support to develop in their roles and that they feel valued, otherwise the success of your company and the number of employees you have will start to decline.
Below, there are some points and tips to think about to ensure you are getting the best out of your middle managers and know they feel supported in their roles.
Are they the right?
Obviously, it is crucial that your middle managers are the right fit for your business, as well as being good at what they do! Managing people and a number of tasks on a daily basis can be a very difficult thing to do. It is important that you have methods in place that will help guide your managers in the right direction.
Even if you have a middle manager that has the best delegation and management skills if they don’t work with others well that can create a lot of issues, so these two elements need to come hand in hand. Resolving issues within the business and potential conflicts between staff will allow everything to run smoothly.
Less delegating
Although this is a very demanding job role, you need to ensure duties are delegated fairly and give more support to middle managers. This will ensure overall performance in the business is consistent and their well-being is supported, which will, in turn, create a happy working environment.
Set expectations and goals
It is important to make sure your middle managers are always working towards something, whether that be a project deadline or a personal goal to help them develop in their role.
If you have a great middle manager but you can see they are struggling, put structures in place for them to follow and work towards. As a business Investing in your staff is so important, no matter what level they are at. It shows you are committed to their growth with the company.
Give them more flexibility
Flexible working is on the rise and being able to connect to the internet anywhere gives your staff the freedom to work remotely. Although it may seem unwise to give middle managers flexibility, for them to know they have the option if needed is important. For your staff to have a good work-life balance, mixing up their routines would boost their productivity.
When you are in a business it can be hard to keep track of everyone working for you, and of course, if you’re at the top it isn’t always a top priority as you trust them to get on with it. But, without middle managers, your business wouldn’t work consistently, so it is important to invest time and money into people that are there to work hard. By supporting the “big picture” this will help your business grow.