Managers are often the heartbeat of a business, and how we support them can make or break a company’s culture, productivity, and even employee retention.
In fact, research tells us that managers are responsible for driving up to 70% of employee engagement. That’s a huge influence! So, as we head into 2025, there’s no better time to invest in giving your managers the tools, training, and support they need to lead with confidence. Here are our top five tips on how you can help your managers make a real difference:
1. Drive Engagement, Build Thriving Teams
Let’s start with the big one—employee engagement. A disengaged team is unproductive and likely to leave. Line managers have the power to turn this around by creating environments where people feel motivated and valued. We know it’s easier said than done, but with a bit of practical training and guidance, managers can take small steps that lead to big results.
2. Close the Leadership Skills Gap
The workplace isn’t what it was a few years ago. Hybrid working, growing demands, and shifting expectations mean that today’s managers need new skills to lead effectively. Leadership development isn’t just for senior teams—your line managers are your frontline leaders. With the right tools, you can help them rise to the challenge and set their teams up for success.
3. Build Better Manager-Employee Relationships
Strong, open relationships between managers and their teams are essential. Regular 1:1s, honest feedback, and creating a safe space to talk—these things aren’t just nice-to-haves; they’re crucial. When managers are confident in having these conversations, trust builds, communication improves, and teams thrive.
4. Focus on Retention and Wellbeing
Happy employees stick around. Burnt-out employees don’t. Managers are uniquely placed to advocate for their teams’ well-being, but they can only do that if they have the right support themselves. Let’s give them the confidence to prioritise well-being, spot the signs of stress, and create a positive culture where people want to stay.
5. Connect Purpose to Productivity
Here’s a question: do your employees know how their work fits into the bigger picture? It’s a manager’s job to help their team connect the dots, showing how what they do every day drives the company’s mission. When people see their purpose at work, their satisfaction and commitment soar.
We’ve Got Something to Help You Get Started
We know how much is on your plate as a business owner, so we’ve created a free resource to help: A Business Owner’s Guide to Management Training.
It’s packed with tips and strategies to empower your managers to lead effectively in 2025. Whether you’re looking to boost engagement, improve retention, or just give your managers a confidence boost, this guide will help.
Download the Guide Now
Click below to get your free copy of the guide and start making positive changes for your managers and your business today.
Need a bit more hands-on help?
We would love to chat about how we can help your managers feel supported and confident. Just drop us a message, and we can have a quick call to see what’s possible.
Holly Mapstone is an HR expert and specialises in helping those of you in the SME sector with all of your HR needs.
Consultancy allows Holly to be agile and to adapt her style and support to suit the needs of her clients. Building strong working relationships allows Holly to deliver improvements, while also aligning people strategy to business outcomes and promoting resilient and positive cultures.
Need Advice?
If you need a hand with any of this, or anything else when it comes to the people and practices in your business, we’d love to help. We are always happy to debate the pros/cons, dos/don’ts with you so please do talk to us if we can help in any way, we are here to support you. Just give us a call and arrange a free consultation. You can talk to Alison directly on 07967 221595 or email info@enlightenhr.com
