Article: Highlights – 14 May Wednesday 14 May 2025 Share Share to LinkedIn Share to Facebook Share via email Middle management, cost-cutting and Tupperware: another week of meeting management challenges Highlights - 14 May View all 2025 CMI Highlights When the going gets tough, how do you get going? Managers face an unprecedented range of challenges today, from the rise of AI to hybrid working and quiet quitting. In this week’s newsletter, we’ve asked four Chartered Managers how they tackle the tough times. Another common demand today is the need to cut costs – while minimising the knock-on effects. Ann Francke OBE CMgr CCMI, CMI’s chief executive, has used her most recent column in The Times to explore how to get your team on board when you’re making those difficult budgetary choices. Bring it on Being open to new opportunities – and paying this mindset forward – is part of what makes a good leader. Tegan Ryan CMgr MCMI spent her career in the housing sector, both in non-profit and private organisations. In this week’s newsletter, she describes how CMI enabled her to make the transition to a for-profit organisation. She shares how becoming Chartered not only helped her to develop her people management skills, but to look after herself during the process. Others may see such challenges and run a mile. A Financial Times article suggests young people regard middle management as a “thankless slog”. We asked the CMI community what they’d do to put this perception right… Plugging the gaps A further challenge facing managers today is how to remove the hurdles that prevent them from developing talented people, so organisations can benefit from their unique knowledge and expertise. Pathways to work are still making the news, whether that’s the changes to Level 7 apprenticeships or the many blocks facing disabled people. With the UK introducing sweeping reforms to the welfare system, we asked how managers can better support disabled employees in order to keep them in work – and offered some tips to ensure your organisation is able to attract and retain disabled people. Pirates and Tupperware Another challenge is how to expand your organisation in the current climate. According to Ian Gray and John Bessant, co-authors of The Scaling Value Playbook, scaling a business requires “privateers”, a multiplayer mindset and a Tupperware approach to networking. If you’re curious what that entails, read on. We hope you’re now feeling suitably buoyed to face the day’s challenges and to support your teams to do the same. Best, Matt Roberts CMgr FCMI Director of membership and professional development, CMI Like this article? Why not share it. Share to LinkedIn Share to Facebook Share via email You might also like these posts on this topic: Topic: How can managers help remove barriers facing disabled employees? We ask how managers can better support disabled employees at work (and what support managers themselves need) Read article Article Topic: Workplace Culture Is middle management just a “thankless slog”? Data says young people see middle management as an overburdened and underpaid position – so what needs to change? Read article Article Topic: Employment Landscape How startups can scale and “change the world” Ian Gray and John Bessant share why growth requires privateers, a multiplayer mindset and a Tupperware approach to networking Read article Article Topic: Building NHS talent from the ground up Level 3 BA apprenticeships are developing the next generation of NHS workers at Dudley NHS Foundation Trust. Read article Case Study Browse all posts Don’t miss out - get notified of new content Sign-up to become a Friend of CMI to recieve our free newsletter for a regular round-up of our latest insight and guidance. CMI members always see more. For the widest selection of content, including CPD tools and multimedia resources, check out how to get involved with CMI membership. Newsletter More ways to get involved Article Our extensive range of articles are designed to keep you in the loop with all the latest management and leadership best practice, research and news. Members See More CMI Members have access to thousands of online learning and CPD resources. Learn more about our membership benefits Join The Community CMI offers a variety of flexible membership solutions, tailored to your needs. Find out more and get involved in the CMI community today.
