Growing trend of ‘accidental’ managers

A RECENT poll conducted by Robert Walters involving more than 2 000 white-collar professionals in South Africa has brought to light a concerning trend — a significant number of managers are stepping into leadership roles without the necessary training, support or recognition.

- TAFADZWA CHAKAODZA

This lack of preparation is leaving many managers feeling overwhelmed and underqualified, ultimately impacting the overall efficacy of organisations.

Here are further findings from the poll:

@ A startling 36% of managers across Africa have received no formal training on how to manage people or teams — leaving them ill-equipped to handle the demands of the role.

@Some 80% of current managers reported taking on unofficial management or mentoring responsibilities without receiving any formal recognition.

@ Some 32% of managers have had to request formal training multiple times, with 24% stating that their primary motivation was feeling overwhelmed or underqualified for their roles.

@ Barriers to training - more than half of the managers surveyed (51%) identified budget cuts or the unavailability of formal training as the main obstacles preventing them from seeking out the training they need.

Changing demands