People management: Why does it matter?

A recent government inquiry into small businesses suggests there are a number of barriers to achieving better productivity. One of the key areas identified was a lack of management training.  

By Rebecca Dixon, director of HR, Halo HR

A common issue across all businesses, regardless of size, is managers who are promoted because they perform well in their job, and suddenly find themselves with a team of people to manage.

These new managers don’t necessarily have the skills, training or support to successfully carry out their new role and are left struggling to get the best out of their team.  

However, the importance of equipping managers with the necessary people skills cannot be underestimated. According to a 2018 YouGov survey, 80 per cent of employees have experienced poor management or a poor manager at least once, and 73 per cent of those have considered leaving a job as a result. Clearly, poor management practices can have a significantly damaging impact on the business.

In our experience, many managers shy away from the human side of management because they feel out of their depth.

Yet failing to address people issues can lead to situations escalating and becoming unnecessarily complex. Providing managers with the skills to deal with their team effectively brings with it benefits including increased employee morale, engagement, productivity and job satisfaction.

At Halo HR we pride ourselves on building positive relationships with clients and help managers navigate HR issues, providing practical advice and guidance to ensure best practice and compliance. The Halo Learning Circle complements the HR offering through a range of development solutions, including masterclasses designed using our knowledge and experience to empower line managers.