Management Transformed

Managing in a Marathon Crisis

Management Transformed: Managing in a Marathon Crisis is a CMI research project exploring the extraordinary challenges and new ways of working that emerged in 2020.

In August 2020, CMI polled nearly 2,300 senior leaders, managers and employees. At a moment of unprecedented change, Management Transformed seeks to understand how managers are coping in this marathon crisis, how work and management responsibilities are changing, and the proven approaches that all managers and leaders need to know.

For further information on our work on workplace disruption, check out Management 4.0.

Our Key Findings

When we started the project, we assumed that location – if you work remotely, in the workplace, or in a hybrid way – would play a pivotal role in the overall success of an organisation. We also thought that rising or falling demand for an organisation’s goods or services would make a difference.

It turns out we were wrong. Despite a mass shift to remote working, our research actually shows it’s not where we work that determines our productivity and job satisfaction; it’s how we’re managed and led.

48%
of employees now work remotely or in a hybrid way

95%
of those surveyed say that communicating clearly is the most important trait during pandemic

49%
of senior leaders report employees are more involved in decision making

41%
of managers say the productivity of their direct reports has increased

72%
of employees rated wellbeing as the top priority for 2021

84%
of employees said overall workplace culture had improved or stayed the same

View the full report online
Download Report

What you need to know

In this marathon crisis, we’ve seen innovative workarounds and new norms established across every aspect of managing and leading. To make our findings more digestible, we’ve split them into four themes that cover everything you need to know to become an effective marathon manager.

Watch our Management Tranformed Launch Event

Trust and Productivity

Learn how building trust in the workplace can improve productivity

Find out more

Communication and Wellbeing

Understand the traits and priorities that managers need to focus on

Find out more

Culture and Employee Engagement

Explore the relationship between culture and employee engagement

Find out more

Diversity and Inclusion

Examine the trends shaping diversity in the workplace

Find out more

Practical Resources

It isn’t enough to understand the transformation of management - better managers and leaders need to take action in their roles and their workplaces today.

That’s why CMI has collated practical resources, so you can leverage the insight our data provides and translate it into real impact for your career and your organisation.

Use the menu on the right to jump to resources specific to each of our four themes.

Show Resources for:

50 entries found

Governance

How to provide your team with a sense of certainty

Having a cause gives people a reason to come to work every day.

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Flexibility

How to manage a ‘hybrid’ workforce

Some people are working from home; some are in the office; many are doing both. It’s a potential management nightmare

Article

1y+

Equality and Diversity

Five ways to create an anti-racist workplace

Rarely has the focus on racism in society and the workplace been greater. CMI and MHFA go through their new guidance

Article

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Productivity

The four drivers of employee engagement at a time of crisis

We’re at a fork in the road. Leaders must resist their command-and-control instincts and instead dig deeper for re-engagement

Article

1y+

More insights and resources

Additional Resources for the CMI Community

At CMI, our Members always see more. Check out additional resources related to the project, including our members-only online resource portal, ManagementDirect.

If you want to hear about new content and opportunities to get involved first, check out the different options available to join our community.

Join the CMI Community

Management Direct

Check out CMI Members’ online management resource and learning portal

CMI Bitesize

Take a look/Sign up to hear more about CMI’s new modular e-learning courses, developed for the future of learning

Better Managers Briefings

Watch Ann Francke OBE’s weekly webinars with special guests on managing through the crisis

CMI Podcast

Browse and listen to one of CMI’s podcast episodes, including interviews with the Management Transformed Steering Group

Our Contributors

Management Transformed: Managing in a Marathon Crisis, is brought to life by the examples and lived experiences of practicing managers. CMI’s immense gratitude goes to the Management Transformed Steering Group and to the managers and leaders who gave their time to provide case studies.

About our contributors Case studies

Managing through this crisis has given leaders a glimpse of what the future of work holds. Our primary goal with Management Transformed is to provide practical advice to best prepare managers for the future, and I'm very proud of the response the project has had to date. Publication of the report is only the beginning - the challenge now is both to learn the lessons of this crisis and to seize some of the opportunities it has presented, so we are better prepared to face ongoing uncertainty and flourish in the future.

Bruce Carnegie-Brown Cmgr CCMI, Chair of the Management Transformed Steering Group, and Immediate Past President, CMI

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Access to cutting-edge research and thought leadership is only one benefit of joining the CMI Community. Whether you’re looking for CPD resources, networking events, or a lifelong career partner, CMI has a membership option that suits your needs.

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