Why Is Line Management Important?

When thinking about our experiences at work, and how people are managed, is an inevitable topic of conversationsconversations. Many of us will be able to remember a time when we have been ‘managed well’, have felt supported in work, been given the opportunity for learning and progression, and hopefully had our wellbeing cared for and maintained in an empathetic and sympathetic way. Unfortunately, some may also have recollections of managers who may have made work uncomfortable (whether intentional or not), that may have had an impact on how we behave and feel at work. The first line manager can be seen as the ‘gate-keeperline managersas gate-keeper’ to many positive and desirable outcomes that many organisations want. In challenging times for organisations, especially in the UK as we are still reeling from the impact of Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, labour marketlabour market fluctuations, growth in international competition and uncertain economic challenges, as well as internal organisational challenges such as increasing age diversity, technological advancementstechnological advancements, health and wellbeing and afuture workforce and workplace trendstechnological advancements diversity in working practices, how these challenges are met and managed could make a difference between organisational success and failure.