Promoted to Management Without the Tools: Why Investing in New Leaders is Critical
How many times have you seen someone who is great at their technical role being promoted to management because of their technical expertise?
How many times have you seen it work?
The problem is, leading a team requires an entirely new set of skills - ones they often haven’t had the chance to learn or develop.
They are also often still trying to do as much of the technical role that they really enjoyed whilst struggling to find time for the new managerial tasks that they don’t yet know how to do!
This happens a lot in industries like tech, for example when engineering managers are still coding alongside their new leadership responsibilities.
The transition from being a high performing individual to an effective manager isn’t automatic.
Without proper training and support, it can lead to frustration, burnout, and, ultimately, a team that doesn’t thrive. People often leave the business as a result.
One business I spoke to said that within two months, four of their engineering managers requested to go back to their original role.
Four!!!
In the meantime they had four teams of people who were feeling neglected, frustrated, and many who were disengaged.
The Problem: Why This Keeps Happening
A survey by the Chartered Management Institute revealed that 82% of UK bosses are "accidental" managers—promoted without any formal training.
This absolutely matches with what I’m seeing and hearing across all of the industries I work with.
Combine this with the fact that 67% of workers have quit or considered quitting because of poor management, and the importance of getting this right becomes clear.
In tech, Managers are often expected to split their time between strategic leadership and their technical roles. But here’s the catch: only 18% of managers have received any formal leadership training, which means they’re not sure how to inspire and motivate their teams effectively.
When new managers aren’t set up for success, the repercussions are huge:
Demotivated teams who feel unsupported
High turnover rates, as employees leave for better-managed workplaces
Missed opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and growth
What Can Be Done?
Fortunately, there are several ways to improve this problem, or ideally avoid it altogether.
A recent article from HR News outlined five effective strategies for supporting new managers:
Provide early and ongoing management training – Building skills at the start ensures they can handle challenges confidently.
Focus on people skills – Critical areas like communication, empathy, and conflict resolution are often overlooked but are vital for leadership.
Use coaching and mentorship – Pair new managers with experienced leaders and engage an external coach to help unlock their true potential far quicker than if they had to figure it all out alone.
Leverage digital learning tools – Personalised e-learning platforms help managers develop at their own pace.
Create pathways for continuous development – Leadership requires ongoing learning.
Sprout Coaching uses leadership coaching and also training in coaching skills to deliver on each of the points above. We see how this:
Empowers teams: Coaching helps managers develop trust and autonomy within their teams, making to easier to motivate and also tackle difficult conversations.
Enhances collaboration: Closer teams mean improved communication, problem solving, innovation, inclusion and conflict resolution.
Boosts retention: Employees stay where they feel supported and inspired.
By investing in coaching, businesses create leaders who don’t just manage tasks but foster innovation, encourage ownership, and build cultures where everyone thrives.
Promoting people who are at the top of their technical game into management roles without the right training is a gamble—one that costs businesses dearly. But with the right support, those same people can become incredible leaders who drive success, innovation, and engagement across their teams.
If your organisation is ready to support its managers and unlock the full potential of your workforce, book a free call to discuss your goals and challenges now.
With proper investment in leadership development, businesses can transform not only their managers but also the entire company culture.
