Here’s what our clients tell us are the biggest issues with their managers.

SME Business owners often cite several key issues with their managers that can hinder overall performance and team dynamics. Here are some of the most common concerns:

1. Lack of Leadership Skills

Many business owners feel that their managers lack essential management skills, such as effective communication, conflict resolution, and decision-making. This can lead to misunderstandings and a lack of direction within teams.

2. Poor Employee Engagement

Business owners frequently report that their managers struggle to engage and motivate their teams. This can result in low morale, decreased productivity, and higher staff turnover rates.

3. Inadequate Performance Management

Some managers may not provide regular feedback or conduct performance reviews effectively with their team members. Business owners often see this as a missed opportunity to develop employees and nip performance issues in the bud, before they become more serious issues.

4. Resistance to Change

In a rapidly evolving business landscape, some managers may be resistant to change or hesitant to adapt to new processes or technologies. This can slow down innovation and hinder business growth.

5. Communication Breakdowns

Many owners find that managers struggle with clear communication, both within their teams and with upper management. This can lead to confusion, misinformation, and decreased efficiency.

6. High Staff Turnover Rates

Our SME clients, often express concern over high employee turnover linked to poor management practices. They recognise that ineffective managers can drive talented employees away, resulting in additional recruitment and training costs.

7. Inability to Delegate

Some managers may struggle to delegate tasks effectively, leading to micromanagement or burnout of themselves. Business owners see this as a barrier to team development and overall productivity.

8. Lack of Strategic Thinking

Our clients sometimes feel that their managers focus too much on day-to-day operations without considering the bigger picture. This can hinder long-term planning and growth.

9. Insufficient Conflict Resolution Skills

Many owners notice that managers have difficulty addressing conflicts within their teams. Unresolved conflicts can create a toxic work environment and impact team cohesion, and again result in higher staff turnover. Why wants to work in a team like this?

10. Limited Professional Development Opportunities

Owners may feel that their managers are not investing in their team’s growth or providing opportunities for the people in their team to develop, which can lead to stagnation and dissatisfaction amongst team members, also resulting in people leaving.

How can we help?

Our vision at Meraki HR is to make every business we work with a great place to work, and your managers play a huge part in this! Luckily for you, our Highly Effective Managers Program is back by popular demand!

We first ran this training program at the start of 2020, just as we entered the first lockdown, and we were going to deliver this program in person and then had to deliver the training on line. Despite these challenges, we had great fun and received 5 star feedback from our first group! Since then, we have run this program for many of our clients as in an inhouse training program for their managers, and as a stand alone on line program for our clients to book their managers onto.

From November 2025, we will be offering this as a “public” program again, meaning that any of our clients can book their managers onto the program.  There will be only 12 places available, and you can see the full details of the program and book your place via this link.

Cost to attend all 5 modules:

£895 plus VAT if booked before the 30th September, or £995 plus VAT thereafter.

The 5 Modules:

1. Thursday November 6th 2025 – Employment Law Masterclass
2. Thursday December 4th 2025 – Effective Communication Skills and having difficult conversations
3. Thursday January 8th 2026- Coaching Skills for Mangers
4. Thursday February 5th 2026 – Recruitment Masterclass
5. Thursday March 5th 2026 – Managing Performance and improving Employee Engagement

To book your place, or to secure a spot for a team member CLICK HERE or, if you have questions about HEMP or any HR matters please feel free to BOOK A CALL with us.