A lot of new managers are thrown in at the deep end. They go from being an individual contributor to suddenly having people to manage, often without anyone clearly defining the role or what’s expected. That lack of clarity can lead to all sorts of problems, such as confusion, frustration, inconsistency, and burnout, both for the manager and their team members. It’s a common issue. Smart, motivated people take on management roles for the first time and are left to figure it out for themselves. They don’t always make the… Read More »Defining the People Manager Role: A Practical Guide for HR and L&D Leaders

In our last blog, we explored why so many first-time managers struggle and why that matters. If you missed it, you can read it here.  In this blog we dig deeper into what to do about it. How do we help new managers succeed in the role, and avoid the uncertainty and confusion that often comes with it? At Willow & Puddifoot, we’ve worked with hundreds of emerging leaders and newly promoted managers. We’ve heard first-hand what they find tough, what makes them doubt themselves, and what helps them grow. And the same… Read More »A Practical Framework to Support First-Time Managers

One of the things we see again and again is people being promoted to manager because they’re good at their job but then struggling to make the shift to people management. Being a people manager requires a completely different skill set from the technical skills that made them great in the first place, but that’s rarely considered. They’re smart, talented and full of potential, but we rarely give them the support to succeed as managers. So, they’re left to figure it out on their own, often without any guidance, support,… Read More »How to Help First-Time Managers Succeed

If you’re responsible for learning and development in an evolving organisation, you’re probably juggling a lot right now. One of the biggest challenges may be keeping leadership development relevant and future focused. In this post, we’re sharing the five leadership skills your organisation needs in 2025, and how they need to evolve at different leadership levels. Many organisations are adapting to new technologies like AI, dealing with constant change, and looking for ways to drive innovation and strengthen their culture. Through all of this, leaders need to inspire their teams and… Read More »The Five Leadership Skills Your Organisation Needs in 2025

A Learning and Development (L&D) strategy is a plan that outlines how employee learning aligns with the broader goals of the business. It maps out the training and development that will give employees the skills, knowledge, and behaviours they need to perform effectively. A strong L&D strategy helps businesses stay competitive by ensuring employees have the right skills, behaviours, and support to perform at their best. But to get this right, it has to start with understanding what’s happening in the organisation – where the business is heading, what the… Read More »How to Set Your L&D Strategy

Navigating the transition to the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) is one of the most challenging steps in a leader’s career. It involves a shift in mindset, responsibilities, and influence. Leaders who excelled in their previous roles can find themselves struggling with this leadership transition. In fact, research shows that nearly 60% of new leaders fail within their first 18 months in senior roles (Corporate Executive Board/Gartner), largely due to the rapid learning and adaptation needed. So, what makes this transition so challenging? And what can organisations do to support leaders… Read More »Navigating the Transition to the Senior Leadership Team