Highlights – 28 May

In the words of CMI President Fiona Dawson CBE CMgr CCMI, our recent President’s Dinner was the perfect chance to “take time out, take stock and celebrate brilliant leaders in the UK”.

We couldn’t agree more. 

Fiona was speaking to a cross-section of the CMI community who’d gathered to toast the winners of our 2024 Gold Medal Award and Lifetime Achievement Award (which went to Aviva’s Dame Amanda Blanc DBE and Baroness Louise Casey of Blackstock DBE CB, respectively), as well as the winners of the CMI Awards of Excellence 2024 and Management Publication of the Year 2024. 

Ann Francke OBE CMgr CCMI, CMI’s chief executive, commended everyone involved for their “remarkable efforts”. 

“Regardless of whether they are an individual working to improve their own skills, or one of CMI’s education partners helping to develop future leaders, they are helping to transform accidental managers into conscious, confident leaders,” she said.

Double the output?

Ann also appeared on Times Radio this week, giving her take on body doubling, an emerging practice where companies require remote staff to spend entire days logged into an online meeting together, even when they’re not collaborating. The idea is to provide accountability and keep their work on track. While Ann acknowledged it may be useful for certain employees – those with ADHD, for example – she warned against trying to impose it on everyone. 

“Managers need to be trained to deal with the fact that people have different working styles,” she said. “To get the best out of people, you have to understand what people’s styles are – and play to those.” 

You may recall our research that found that eight out of ten managers in the UK are untrained, accidental managers who’ve found themselves in leadership roles without any formal development. We’ve also researched the difference a people-focused strategy can make in motivating employees and building a thriving workplace. 

Petra Wilton, CMI’s director of policy and external affairs, stressed the pivotal role of managers in an article she wrote for FE News, ‘From Burnout to Better Workplaces – Why mental health support starts with great management’. 

And she backed that up by appearing on BBC Business for Mental Health Awareness Month, where she highlighted a survey by Reed, the recruitment company, which found 85% of employees showed signs of fatigue, burnout and mental health issues. Here, Petra examined a trend among companies to offer support through mental health apps, and stressed how that can’t replace managers in supporting their teams. 

“Managers need to be trained and equipped to recognise mental health challenges, provide appropriate support and ensure the affected staff do not feel stigmatised,” she said.

Petra has been tireless in banging the drum for better training. She also appeared on LBC Radio this week, stressing how Level 7 Senior Leader Apprenticeships, now being defunded by the government for those aged 22 and older, are a key driver of economic growth and social mobility. 

The power of learning

The pivotal role of education is also a resounding theme of this week’s members’ newsletter. Sue Clarke CMgr FCMI, marketing manager at Cumbria Tourism, shares how her leadership training has helped her face unimaginable challenges in the hospitality sector (it was her job to announce that the Lake District had closed during the Covid-19 pandemic) – and to prepare for sweeping technological changes. 

We also meet Vicki Belt, deputy director of impact and engagement at the Enterprise Research Council. Vicki produces the centre’s podcast, Exploring Enterprise, which was shortlisted for Management Publication of the Year. Exploring Enterprise takes an informal look at the latest research into small businesses and the challenges they face.

Meanwhile, Stuart Linehan CMgr MCMI shares how his emotional intelligence helps him at the Ministry of Defence (his department works on everything from AI threat detection to developing underwater glues to repair wetsuits in extreme conditions). 

We’re always amazed by the breadth of brilliant leadership on display across our community. So why not join us in stepping back, taking stock and celebrating yourselves…

Best,

Matt Roberts CMgr FCMI

Director of membership and professional development, CMI

Image: CMI