Over the past decade, the business world has evolved tremendously, with the last three years having a special impact. We’ve gone through an unprecedented pandemic that has forever changed our approach to work. Additionally, political turmoil, economic turbulence, and, last but not least, generative AI — whose impact on our work and lives we are just beginning to feel — have all played significant roles.

Global challenges, alongside advancements in technology, the rise of remote and hybrid work, increasing stress levels (which research shows continue to rise, surpassing those during the pandemic), and a growing emphasis on workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) impact organisational dynamics and employee expectations.

Views on a manager's responsibilities are also changing. Moreover, they have significantly expanded in recent years. In addition to the traditional focus on productivity and performance management, which remain crucial, modern managers face an expanded spectrum of responsibilities.

Modern managers are expected to deeper understand the individual goals, strengths, and challenges of their team members to maintain engagement and foster a productive and inclusive environment.

They play a pivotal role in implementing and advocating for DEI initiatives within their companies, ensuring diverse hiring practices and orchestrating an inclusive environment within their teams. Employee mental and emotional wellbeing is not just an HR concern but a critical component of effective management. In fact, every second employee who leaves a company does so because of ineffective management.

Managers need to support employee wellbeing, including conducting regular check-ins, promoting work-life balance, and creating a supportive team culture. They are also expected to be able to identify potential mental health issues and have critical conversations with their employees to refer them for professional help that the company provides.

In the remote work model, supporting employee well-being is even more crucial and, at the same time, much more challenging.

Managing remote and hybrid teams is a new skill that managers need to master. From reported fatigue due to constant connectivity to dealing with loneliness, these are some of the challenges that managers need to address. Team buildings and informal communication are elements that are very difficult to implement online.

Managers are expected to invest more time in the career progression of their employees, acting as career coaches. They need to understand the career aspirations of their team members and proactively offer them opportunities for skill advancement. In the tech industry, where the remote/hybrid work model is the norm, managers have to be more creative to find ways to help employees fulfil their career aspirations, especially when networking, informal interaction with senior management, and visibility are very difficult.

These are just some examples of the expanded responsibilities of modern managers. Not surprisingly, they often feel stressed and overwhelmed by the growth of their responsibilities and are not well-equipped to handle change.

76% of managers feel not supported in developing their skills in coaching employees for better performance, development and career management.

Empowering your leadership with the right tools and insights is not just an option — it's a necessity. Incorporating coaching into the professional development of managers is a strategic investment that can significantly enhance their ability to cope with and excel in their diversified responsibilities.

Coaching provides safe space for managers to assess their own management style, address challenges and incorporate these broader responsibilities into their leadership approach. By fostering growth in areas such as emotional intelligence, communication, leadership, and strategic thinking, coaching prepares managers to lead more effectively, adapt to change, and contribute to the creation of a positive, productive, and inclusive workplace environment.

At Elatra, we specialise in professional coaching, providing bespoke coaching solutions that are meticulously tailored to meet the unique needs of your managers. Our approach is grounded in understanding the specific challenges and objectives of your team, ensuring that every coaching session delivers tangible value and actionable strategies.

Schedule your discovery session with us to find out more about coaching solutions at Elatra.