As the new financial year kicks off in Australia, Karen Kirton explores a crucial factor that can make or break your business goals: the effectiveness of your middle managers. Often caught between strategic direction and operational execution, middle managers can become the "frozen middle" — disconnected, overwhelmed, and under-supported.

In this episode, Karen shares how to engage, empower, and elevate your middle managers so they can help drive your organisation’s success in the year ahead.

In today’s episode, you will learn:

• What the "frozen middle" is – Why middle managers often feel left out of strategic planning and how this disconnect hinders organisational progress.
• The burnout problem – Citing Indeed’s 2023 Wellbeing Report, Karen highlights how over 50% of middle managers are stressed or burnt out, leading to inefficiency and disengagement.
• The communication gap – Why you need to take your middle managers on the same strategic journey as your senior leadership team—and how to do that effectively.
• The mindset shift – How to help managers understand their vital role as leaders, not just individual contributors juggling 130% workloads.
• Development matters – What leadership development could look like for your business, and how regular, low-lift training sessions can keep middle managers energised and aligned.
• The one-thing-a-month rule – Encouraging self-driven learning through simple activities like podcasts, articles, or networking to broaden perspectives and reduce overwhelm.

Karen's call to action:
Include middle manager support in your business planning for the new financial year. Get their feedback, understand their pain points, and implement communication, mindset, and development strategies to unlock their full potential.

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We’d love your feedback on this series, just head on over to Amplify HR or connect with Karen on LinkedIn.

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