This roundup includes advice from Dr. Heidi K. Gardner and Dr. Mark Mortensen
This article contains the Harvard Business Review’s favorite management tips from 2022, including an adaptation from “Managers Are Trapped in a Performance-Compassion Dilemma” by Dr. Heidi K. Gardner and Dr. Mark Mortensen:
“Many middle managers are feeling torn right now between performance demands from leadership and calls for compassion from their employees. What can you do if you’re feeling stuck in the middle? To start, work with executives to change the dialogue around performance. Help them understand the needs of frontline employees, bringing data to the table about how many people are experiencing hardships. At the same time, empower your employees. Remember that compassion doesn’t mean you have to fix all their problems for them. Help them see their challenges in a new light, and facilitate connections they need to build and broaden their networks of support. Finally, don’t forget to take care of yourself. No manager will be able to effectively help their employees if they’re also burned out.”