Niamh welcomes Sinead D'Arcy, an early talent strategist and founder of Future Roots. The pair discuss the shifting landscape of the workforce, the challenges faced by both new and experienced managers, and the importance of focusing on human skills to ensure a better workday for everyone.
00:00 Introduction to Early Talent Strategy
03:55 Defining a Better Workday
08:58 The Role of Managers in Supporting Early Talent
15:43 Training First-Time Managers
21:53 Generational Shifts in Management
25:48 Conclusion and Key Takeaways
Sinead D'Arcy, an expert in early talent, explains that a manager's role is critical to the retention, productivity, and happiness of employees. However, she notes that managers are often time-poor and can be referred to as the "squeezed middle". They are expected to do more with less, while also managing diverse teams across multiple generations and adjusting to new work models and technologies like AI. A Stanford study found that 25% of employees surveyed rated their managers as poor communicators, highlighting a major gap in manager training. Sinead explains that first-time managers, in particular, need support with things like setting clear KPIs, providing feedback, and balancing their own workload.
To help managers, Sinead focuses on mindset, encouraging them to see management not as an extra burden, but as a privilege and an opportunity to help people. She introduces practical tools, such as the Stephen Covey grid, to help managers and their teams prioritise and gain clarity. Sinead also champions the use of team charters, which provide a clear "strategy on a page" that outlines a team's mission, objectives, and communication guidelines. She also highlights the fact that the eldest of the Centennial generation are now becoming first-time managers themselves, which presents a new set of challenges and expectations for organisations.
The manager is the most influential person in an employee's workday, impacting their productivity and engagement.
Organisations are losing human skills as older generations retire, while there is an overemphasis on digital skills development.
Mindset is crucial for new managers to view their role as an opportunity to guide and coach their teams.
A lack of training for new managers on communication, feedback, and time management can lead to frustration and high turnover.
The manager's role is critical: The manager is the most important and influential person for an employee's productivity, engagement, and happiness at work.
A manager's job has changed: Managers today are expected to do more with less, balancing a diverse workforce, hybrid work models, and new technology.
Mindset is everything: For managers, especially first-timers, having a growth mindset helps them see their role as an opportunity to guide and develop people rather than a difficulty.
The workforce is changing: The eldest of the Centennial generation are already becoming junior managers, and they are shaping the future of management with their own set of expectations.
Human skills are vital: With the retirement of older generations, organisations risk losing crucial human skills, while there is an overemphasis on digital skills development.
Sinéad D'Arcy is an Early Talent Strategist & founder of FUTURE-ROOTS. Sinéad has over 20-years experience in the early careers space & has established award winning internship & graduate programmes for companies such as Ericsson, Ulster Bank & most recently Irish Distillers where she was Head of the Jameson International Graduate Programme for 12-years & hired 308 graduates to the business during that time. Sinéad is a frequent contributor to national publications on the topic of early careers, Gen Z & the future of work.
Connect with Sinéad on LinkedIn
Welcome to The Better Workday Podcast with your host, Niamh Moynihan. Niamh is the founder of Better Workday. She will challenge you to think differently about how you manage your time, energy, attention and relationships at work to be successful while supporting your well-being.
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