#317 Caught in the Middle: The Hidden Cost of Ignoring Your Middle Managers
Welcome to the 317th episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast! In this episode, I'm exploring a topic very close to my heart: Caught in the Middle: The Hidden Cost of Ignoring Your Middle Managers. Specifically, why middle managers seem to get squeezed from all sides while senior C-suite leaders absorb all the coaching and development resources. In today’s show on Caught in the Middle: The Hidden Cost of Ignoring Your Middle Managers 01:12 - Defining the middle manager and their role as a critical communication pivot point. 02:00 - Why the middle management role has rapidly expanded due to hybrid work, AI, and leaner operating models. 03:48 - Key data from Gallup on manager burnout, declining engagement, and why managers account for 70% of variance in team engagement. 07:05 - What "ignoring" your middle managers actually looks like in practice. 10:30 - Practical solutions to support, develop, and rehumanize the role of middle managers. Quotes on Caught in the Middle: The Hidden Cost of Ignoring Your Middle Managers Middle managers act as critical pivot points that link and filter communication between leadership and the wider workforce. Managers account for around 70% of the variance in team engagement. Stop promoting people into management as a reward or as a bonus for being good at something else without consulting them and without giving them support. Technical stars can progress without being reluctant managers if they have the right support. We need to make sure humans supporting humans are supported. .stk-4da79ac {margin-bottom:8px !important;} Resources for Caught in the Middle: The Hidden Cost of Ignoring Your Middle Managers Episode #316: How and Why Workplace Systems Break People Why Middle Manager Burnout is Becoming a Structural Business Risk State of the Global Workplace 2026 Join my Mailing List and receive a white paper on mental health and inclusion here Check out my TEDx talk: The Connection between Culture, Race and Mental Health Leave me a message on my SpeakPipe .stk-ec55c3e {margin-bottom:0px !important;} Work with me Have a look at my online work-life balance course on Thinkific. You can access it here: http://bit.ly/DMMHPONC One-hour focused Sessions £250 1-2-1 Power Hour Sessions for Organisations Complete the form to discuss your training needs: https://forms.gle/hgnYtmTu33Zeem489 Check out my coaching FAQs or learn more about how 1:1 coaching can support your wellbeing. Subscribe to the podcast If you enjoyed this episode, then consider subscribing on Apple podcast , Spotify or wherever you access your podcasts from. If you enjoyed it, why not leave a review? You can also connect with me on Facebook , Twitter , and LinkedIn. Remember to tune in next week, where I’ll bring you more insights on mental health and inclusion.


