May 30, 2024

Managers Are Overworked and I'm Worried - Mike Cohn

4 minutes

I’m scared, folks—not of zombies, spiders, or flying.
I’m afraid of managers. Maybe I should say I’m afraid for managers.
I just read a new Harvard Business review article called Four Reasons Why Managers Fail. It said managers have nearly three times as many direct reports as they did just six years ago.
Managers also reported an average of 51% more responsibilities than they can handle.
The same research found that 44% of managers are struggling to fully support their direct reports.
I get that it’s fashionable to bash managers and to think of them as all living in a Dilbert cartoon. But managers perform important functions in organizations:

They help convey organizational strategy.

They look out for the careers and development of their employees.

Managers resolve conflict.

They help put the right people together to form great teams.

They shelter teams from the potentially swirling whirlwind of change that often exists outside the team.

Managers facilitate decisions.

They have resources and can get more when it’s justified.

Managers help create—or change—the culture of an organization.

And when you want someone to remove an impediment? There’s no one better than a manager with both budget and people responsibilities.

So when some serious research reveals 48% of managers are at risk of failure, I’m worried.
I can literally remember becoming a manager. The responsibilities I had felt huge. The company was planning for a public offering and if the teams I managed were to fail, the public offering wouldn’t happen. Some nights I was sleepless with excitement over what my teams were accomplishing and how well they were working together.
Some nights I was sleepless with worry. (Other nights I was sleepless from too much pizza.)
But according to the research in this article, I had it easy as a manager back then compared to the stress and responsibilities managers feel today.
If you’re a manager with too many responsibilities, or three times the direct reports you had a few years ago, or you’re worried you’re at risk of failure, please understand you’re not alone; what you’re feeling is the norm now.
Next, take a look at my website. I’ve got hundreds of blog posts there, in addition to the videos on YouTube. It’s very likely you’ll find something there to help.
Or try asking GoatBot, our AI answer engine. It’s been trained on everything I’ve written or taught.
Finally, just click reply to this email—even if you only want some sympathy for the challenges of being a manager today. My team and I want to help.
So many managers at risk of failing scares me. That’s a lot of value that could be created in the world that may not be. Let’s fix that together,

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