Managers and people leaders play a pivotal role in shaping the way employees experience work. Their influence can be the difference between a thriving, engaged team and a workplace struggling with disengagement. To help businesses unlock the full potential of their leaders, we hosted Katy Walton from Make Real Progress, who led a powerful webinar titled "Setting Your Leaders Up for Success."
If you couldn’t attend, don’t worry! We’ve summarised the key insights and themes Katy shared during the session. Whether you’re an experienced leader or an organisation looking to nurture your management team, these lessons will provide valuable guidance.
Why Leaders Matter More Than Ever
Katy highlighted the profound impact leaders have on organisational success. Here are some eye-opening statistics from the session that underline just how pivotal managers are to a company’s outcomes:
80% of voluntary turnover is linked to an unsatisfactory relationship with a manager (Source: Saratoga Institute).
Managers account for 70% of the variance in team engagement (Source: Gallup).
Engaged employees lead to a 14% increase in productivity and an 81% reduction in absenteeism (Source: Gallup).
Beyond numbers, effective leadership creates happier teams, stronger retention rates, better performance, and even improved business reputation. However, poor leadership can result in costly outcomes, including lower morale, absenteeism, and even financial losses. For example, poor management costs UK employers £84 billion annually (Source: OECD).
The Challenge of “Accidental Managers”
A standout theme from the webinar was the concept of “accidental managers”—individuals who are promoted into leadership roles without the proper training or preparation. The Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) estimates that the UK has approximately 2.4 million untrained managers.
This lack of preparation often stems from promoting based on tenure or technical expertise, rather than leadership capability. And yet, better management practices alone can lead to a 39% improvement in performance for lower-performing firms (Source: ONS).
What Does Successful Leadership Look Like?
Katy explored what separates great leaders from average ones. Successful leaders create environments where their teams feel secure, valued, and empowered. These high-trust cultures lead to extraordinary results:
Teams in high-trust organisations report 76% more engagement and 106% more energy (Source: Gallup).
The best leaders foster openness, making their teams feel comfortable taking risks, sharing ideas, and learning from mistakes (Source: Google’s Project Aristotle).
Katy also walked through Gallup’s defining engagement questions, which point to some key leadership behaviours that drive team performance:
Do individuals know what’s expected of them?
Have they received praise in the past seven days?
Does their manager show that they care as a person?
Overcoming Leadership Challenges
During the session, Katy pinpointed common factors that can hold leaders back, including:
Lack of clear expectations around management roles.
Poor role modelling or company culture.
Limited feedback, accountability, or recognition.
An absence of developmental opportunities to build confidence and skills.
These challenges are significant, but they’re far from insurmountable. With proper support and investment in leadership development, organisations can empower their managers to succeed.
E.P.I.C. Growth for Leaders
Growth was a core focus of Katy’s webinar. She introduced the framework E.P.I.C., which highlights four pillars for leadership development:
Experiences: Encourage leaders to step into new challenges, such as leading projects or mentoring others.
People: Surround them with supportive networks, feedback, and role models.
Information: Share simple tools, learning resources, and practical insights to help them thrive.
Courses: Provide access to formal training like MOOCs, certifications, or in-house programmes.
The emphasis is on taking small, intentional steps to foster a growth mindset and build capabilities over time.
Setting Leaders (and Your Organisation) Up for Success
A critical takeaway from Katy’s session is that investing in leadership is an investment in your company’s success. Leaders who are equipped with the right tools, training, and trust can create a ripple effect that empowers teams, drives engagement, and fuels long-term business results.
How Can You Start Supporting Your Leaders Today?
Define Clear Expectations: Less than 50% of businesses have clear expectations for their managers. Ensure your organisation sets these standards.
Recognise and Reward Great Leadership: Acknowledge and celebrate leaders who demonstrate exceptional behaviours.
Prioritise Trust: High-trust environments allow teams to take risks and collaborate effectively, unlocking their full potential.
Invest in Development: Don’t leave leadership skills to chance. Implement an E.P.I.C. growth strategy tailored to your organisation’s needs.
Join the Conversation
Katy’s session is just the beginning of the conversation. At ACR, we believe in empowering organisations and their leaders to reach new heights. If you’d like to learn more about how to build stronger leadership in your business, feel free to reach out to Katy (katy@makerealprogress.co.uk), and keep an eye on the ACR blog for more insights.