82% of new managers have no training to lead a team
When you’ve been off from work due to a public holiday or annual leave, do you return to work full of enthusiasm after your time off only to find the same old management issues affecting business performance?
Well maybe you shouldn’t be too surprised…
Whilst you wouldn’t visit a doctor who hasn’t been to medical school or use an unqualified electrician, in the UK there are many thousands of managers who are leading their teams without any relevant training whatsoever.
The absence of management expertise has a knock-on effect on workers who can feel down and lacking in motivation because of ineffective leadership. Poor management influences the wellbeing of employees, staff retention rates and ultimately the success of organisations. This new blog from Reed Learning discusses the value of good management and, more importantly, the dangers of getting it wrong.
Amateur bosses
A recent study by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) highlighted the sheer volume of managers who are in the role without the skills to do the job. The research revealed that eight out of ten (82%) new managers take on management responsibilities without any formal training. 52% of managers do not hold any management or leadership qualifications. And 26% of senior leaders and managers have never received any formal management training.
These accidental managers are individuals who are promoted simply because of their technical capability but find themselves in a managerial role without the skills to lead their team, something Wayne Rooney, one of England’s greatest-ever footballers, is all too familiar with after his dismissal as Birmingham City boss after just 83 days.
According to the OECD – Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development – there are 2.4 million accidental managers operating in the UK whose poor operational skills are costing employers approximately £84 billion a year.
Many economists believe that bad management by amateur bosses is having a major impact on UK productivity growth which has been stagnating since the 2008 financial crisis.
With the current employment landscape of strikes, disengaged employees, and skill shortages, organisations are facing major challenges in the year ahead. Management training and development is not just good practice but a critical strategy for gaining a competitive edge in today’s business environment.
Too many people fall into management roles due to promotion
Managing teams effectively has always been important to business success. Done well, it can help attract and retain your talent, improve employee engagement and deliver high productivity. Done badly, it can lead to disengagement, unhappiness and high turnover rates.
Too many organisations see management as a reward for people who are good at their job while failing to recognise that effective leadership requires specialised training. Many of us will have experienced poor management in the workplace such as a lack of clear instructions, inconsistent feedback or a failure to delegate. Successful management is a professional skill that needs both knowledge and practice.
So, what is the solution to becoming a good boss? A great place to start is a management training course.
CMI qualifications set a high standard for effective managers
Reed Learning offers a range of CMI accredited qualifications designed to help managers develop the skills and knowledge to be proficient in the job and to achieve results for their organisation. Ideal for anyone currently working or aiming for a leadership role, the CMI Level 5 Award, Certificate or Diploma in Management and Leadership provides the high-level strategic skills to be an effective mid-level manager.
Becoming CMI qualified is a win-win situation for everyone involved. CMI courses are specifically designed to enable companies to become more efficient and effective due to better management while learners can reach chartered manager status if they complete the Diploma.
Key benefits for the employer and employee
There are many reasons to gain a management qualification. CMI qualifications are globally recognised and are highly valued by employers. Research by the CMI suggests that managers who become Chartered gain an average pay rise of £13,000. The real benefits, however, are in the skills and the knowledge gained to become a good manager, including:
Improved communication
More effective written and spoken communication leads to more productive conversations with team members.
Learn to listen
Not everyone responds to the same style of leadership. Learn to listen with the intent of understanding the other person and set aside distractions.
Better decision-making
Develop the techniques and strategies to make decisions in an informed and timely way.
Delegate effectively
Giving a task to the right person, communicating clearly how it should be performed, setting clear goals and then managing the process.
Managing change effectively
In business, change is inevitable. A manager’s key role is to guide and support their teams through change with open communication.
Managing equality, diversity and inclusion
Gain the skills and knowledge needed to support an inclusive and diverse business culture.
Skilled management
The benefits of skilled management are vast. Good managers boost staff morale, increase productivity and improve business outcomes. Their teams feel more valued and motivated to do a great job. As the country seeks to escape from a long stretch of slow growth and lost productivity, it’s time for organisations to relegate ‘accidental managers’ to history and provide their managers with the skills and knowledge they need to lead teams successfully.
Reed Learning CMI courses