Highlights – 27 August

Are you worried about your young talent “job hopping”? You may have noticed that roles are not a long-term commitment but a stepping stone for many Gen Z – who put flexibility, growth and rapid career advancement above loyalty to one employer. 

This leaves managers with a burning question, which we recently put to the CMI community: how do you hold on to the young people who exhibit the skills and talents you need? You can read their tips in this week’s newsletter. 

One surefire way to boost retention is to offer training and development opportunities. Mentorship is one option that will help the organisation too. The Canadian HR Reporter recently cited research from CMI that found that 67% of businesses report higher productivity as a direct result of mentoring.

Then there are training institutions. Mount Charles has highlighted its new three-tier management training academy, recognised by CMI, which has a remit to develop teams and nurture future leaders. Meanwhile, Trivandi, an official event partner for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, has announced it will hire 250 people and train them in event-planning through its CMI-accredited Trivandi Academy.

High stakes

As if we were ever at risk of forgetting why training is so important, the media are always quick to remind us. The Telegraph recently ran an article highlighting the degrees that offer the best job prospects. It cited CMI research that showed nearly 80% of employers believe graduates aren’t work-ready. Personnel Today highlighted the same CMI data in an article on tackling the UK’s youth confidence crisis. Meanwhile, Delo, a Ukrainian publication,cited CMI’s Accidental Managers research in an article on why employees leave their jobs.

Fake it till you make it. That’s what some suggest. This week’s newsletter features an extract from Ginka Toegel’s The Confidence Myth, which explores why this approach can however lead to deception and dishonesty, and hinder personal development. 

There’s no risk of that for Hannah Dunkley CMgr MCMI, our Chartered Manager of the Week. Also in this week’s newsletter, Hannah, head of finance at an automotive start-up, shares how she had to do most of her leadership learning on the job – and how the Help to Grow: Management Course kept her on the fast track to growth. 

Operation AI

If you don’t fully support your employees, the cracks in their loyalty may show in unexpected ways. New CMI data featured in The Times last week found that 70% of managers who need advice will turn to AI chatbots before their own bosses – in part because the computer won’t ridicule them for their questions. Petra Wilton, CMI’s director of policy and external affairs, was quoted warning that this can be a “red flag” for a “trust and culture problem”.

In this week’s newsletter, we explore the AI challenge further. Jean Gan explores how the effective use of AI is about balancing technology and human judgement – while stressing the importance of proper oversight. We also hear from Stefan Crossfield CMgr FCMI, who spearheaded the digital transformation of the British Army to meet the changing demands of modern warfare. Now taking his first steps on “civvy street”, he offers the CMI community his lessons from the front line of AI and data. 

Our tip: whatever your approach to AI, make sure you keep your flesh and blood troops engaged, happy and mission-ready.  

Best,

Matt Roberts CMgr FCMI

Director of membership and professional development, CMI

Image: CMI