In this episode, Karen Kirton explores what happens when managers avoid people management responsibilities—whether they openly dislike managing people or simply shy away from difficult conversations. Many organizations promote technical experts into management roles without giving them the skills or mindset shift needed to succeed as leaders, leading to disengagement, dysfunction, and conflict within teams.

In today’s episode, you will learn about:

• Why some managers struggle with people management, particularly in technical fields like IT, engineering, and finance.
• The dangers of having disengaged people managers, including unresolved conflicts, employee turnover, and reduced productivity.
• How poor managers shift HR responsibilities, forcing HR to handle performance management and difficult conversations, which weakens the manager’s credibility and disengages employees.
• Why leadership is about managing people first, and why a great manager isn’t just a technical expert but a strong communicator and team leader.
• How to address the issue through: 
  1. Setting clear expectations—ensuring that leadership responsibilities are a non-negotiable part of any management role.
  2. Managing behaviors, not just results—even high performers need accountability for how they lead.
  3. Developing leadership skills—investing in emotional intelligence training, coaching, and leadership development.
  4. Having honest conversations—helping managers decide whether leadership is truly the right fit for them.
  5. Restructuring if necessary—removing ineffective people managers from leadership roles while retaining their technical expertise.

This episode provides a practical approach for business owners and leaders to ensure that management roles are filled with capable, engaged leaders who foster a productive and positive workplace culture.

Do you have people managers who don’t like managing people? 

Make sure to subscribe to stay updated with new releases every Monday!

We’d love your feedback on this series, just head on over to amplifyhr.com.au or connect with Karen on LinkedIn! 

Send us a text

Get our free eBook packed with practical strategies to attract, engage, and retain top talent. Perfect for business owners and leaders focused on building a thriving team. Download it at amplifyhr.com.au/downloadable/find-grow-keep