As organizations continue to evolve their hybrid workplace strategies, the plight of middle managers is starting to come into a clearer focus.
“Middle management has always been a challenge, even without layering in the complexities of hybrid work. They are navigating and leading in the ‘messy middle’ where they have to advocate for senior leaders while also leading their teams, said Liz Pavese, a director at CoachHub, a Seattle-based digital coaching platform.
Research shows that the challenge is taking its toll. In a recent pulse survey of 10,000 workers conducted by Slack Technologies’ Future Forum, a record 43 percent of middle managers say they’re burned out
the highest of any job level. While the people they manage report higher levels of satisfaction and productivity as a result of greater workplace flexibility, middle managers feel less connected to their companies and are far more likely to look for a new job.
Middle managers also reported the lowest scores for work/life balance along with the highest levels of stress and anxiety.
One reason is that they’re responsible for bringing their teams back to physical workplaces at a time when employee resistance is high.
