The Squeezed Layer: Why Your Managers Are Burning Out

Overview of Discussion

• Event led by Lucy Quick, focused on the challenges of the “frozen middle” layer of management.
• Purpose: explore how middle managers navigate constant change, AI integration, and shifting expectations.
• Aim: provide strategies for building resilient, adaptable teams while supporting managers caught between leadership and staff.

• Historical context of team structures, remote/hybrid working, and the role of adaptability.
• Key challenge: middle managers often promoted for technical skill, not leadership desire or training.
• AI adoption discussed—$40bn invested without proven productivity gains, highlighting gaps in application and training.
• Importance of psychological safety for innovation and resilience.

Collaborative Insights

• Managers need visibility of workloads and priorities to avoid being “squeezed” between leadership demands and team needs.
• Encouraging team retrospectives shifts responsibility from manager to group, empowering collaboration.
• Reverse mentoring suggested to bridge AI skills gaps between junior and senior staff.
• Hybrid work requires intentional culture-building and time for informal connection.
• “Frozen middle” stagnation can harm culture if development opportunities are missed.

Key Takeaways

• AI isn’t a solution on its own—adoption must be linked to team goals and realistic expectations.
• Psychological safety is essential for resilience, innovation, and reducing stress.
• Resilience differs from stress management—it’s about future-proofing and adaptability.
• Visibility of tasks and shared accountability improve efficiency and reduce conflict.
• Regular retrospectives and team-led reflection help teams self-correct and sustain performance.