Managers today are being asked to do more than ever — lead through uncertainty, personalise work, deliver on performance, and show up with empathy every single day.
They must buffer ambiguity and clarify complexity
They need to navigate tensions — between purpose and profit, fairness and performance, sustainability and speed
They’re expected to lead with compassion and candour. Anticipate the future and deal with the mess of now
Done well, they become the heart of your organisation—pumping trust, clarity, and energy throughout the system.
But here’s the truth: human managers can’t do this alone.
They need our help — through better systems, smarter tools, and stronger communities.
💗 Here are 3 practical actions to help get the heart of organisations pumping:
1️⃣ Define, Identify & Value Human Managers
The first step? Update your profile of what great management looks like.
Many organisations still default to outdated ideas of management —f ocused on control, technical strength, or tenure.
But today, the best managers build trust, coach growth, and create meaning in the flow of work.
Here’s how to start shifting the profile:
✅ Update job descriptions to reflect the skills that truly matter — like emotional intelligence, coaching, systems thinking and adaptability.
✅ Use human-centred profiles like the Make It Human profile to spark ideas and adapt for your context.
✅ Share the updated profile widely — not just for hiring, but to set a new vision for existing managers too.
✅ Offer development, not just demands. Help managers learn, grow and feel supported in stepping into this expanded role.
✅ Look beyond the usual suspects. Share your new profile with untapped talent pools and ask: Who wants to lead in this way?
🎊 And don’t just say people leadership matters — show it.
Try:
Calling out great people management behaviours in team meetings
Creating awards or spotlight moments for brilliant managers
Asking teams to recognise the impact of their leaders
Reviewing whether rewards reflect the true value of great management
Let’s stop treating management like an afterthought. It’s a profession — and one worth celebrating.
2️⃣ Enable Managers to Prioritise Time With People
Most managers want to be human managers. But they’re buried in meetings, emails, admin and firefighting.
To truly change the game, we need to redesign the role—freeing managers up to spend more time where it counts: with their people.
Ideas to accelerate this shift:
🛠 Use AI or tech to automate low-impact coordination
📊 Surface insights from team interactions to guide better coaching
💬 Provide AI-assisted tips for improving team conversations in real-time
🔁 Encourage continuous feedback loops in the flow of work
🪄 Then, make that time meaningful.
Help managers facilitate the moments that matter — from onboarding to celebrations to setbacks. These micro-moments are where culture lives and breathes.
Modern work isn’t linear anymore. People move through fluid career journeys, life stages, and transitions. Managers are key to making these moments feel intentional, supportive and human.
3️⃣ Build & Support a Community of Human Managers
Finally, managers need each other.
Many feel overwhelmed, isolated, underdeveloped, or undervalued. A community changes that — creating space to share struggles, swap ideas, and build confidence together.
Start by focusing on three powerful relationship-building capabilities:
🤝 Building trust
📢 Sharing honest, constructive feedback
🛡 Creating psychological safety
These transcend industries, geographies and growth stages — and they unlock high performance and strong teams.
To create a true sense of community and identity, you might:
Start a rhythm of regular manager-only forums or peer coaching spaces
Give managers direct access to leadership discussions and development time
Share challenges and crowdsource solutions together
Profile great managers and share their stories
Create separate career tracks for human management and technical expertise
And most importantly—make management feel valued.
Showcase the role, highlight its impact, and open early pathways for those who are energised by helping others thrive.
❤️ The Human Era Starts Now
This isn’t about doing more.
It’s about doing management differently — with intention, clarity, and humanity at its core.
If we want workplaces where people grow, contribute and feel connected, we need to invest in the people leading them every day.
Let’s start a new era — together.
One where human managers are seen, supported and celebrated for the powerful work they do.
Join a community of culture shapers passionate about shaping workplaces where people and businesses thrive in the Make It Human Club. Access a library of on-demand tools and resources, join regular meet-ups and learn how to shape growth cultures wherever you are.
