In the Media

We’ve almost all experienced Accidental Leaders — people promoted for their technical skills or top performance, not because they were ready to lead. In fact, 82% of UK bosses fall into this category. Common challenges include micromanagement, lack of vision and weak people skills. And the impact of these can lead to toxic team cultures and low morale/high turnover in employees

It’s tough for the leaders too — stress, self-doubt, and pressure to perform without support. However promotions are inevitable, so the solution is clear:

• Mentoring & coaching
• Training
• Leadership networks

With the right support, Accidental Leaders can become effective, trusted leaders — and everyone benefits.

At a recent Full FX London event, a millennial panel discussion revealed surprising alignment with older generations on workplace views (e.g., hybrid work, multi-generational value).

• Key takeaway: workplace bias often distorts how we label, judge, and misunderstand colleagues.
• Bias = mental shortcuts that shape decisions and perceptions, consciously or unconsciously.
• Five common workplace biases:

• • Blind Spot Bias – believing we’re less biased than others.
  • Bandwagon Effect – following the crowd.
  • Outcome Bias – judging only results, not process.
  • Authority Bias – overvaluing hierarchy/status.
  • Confirmation Bias – seeking views that reinforce our own.

Although bias can never be eliminated, awareness, reflection, and critical thinking help mitigate its impact.

Replacing staff costs 6–9 months’ salary, making retention a critical HR challenge. Yet research shows employees at environmentally friendly companies accept 9–15% lower salaries, highlighting sustainability’s potential as a retention lever. Millennials and Gen Z, in particular, expect their employers to take meaningful climate action.

• 62% of Gen Zs and 59% of Millennials report climate anxiety; many change jobs for environmental alignment.

• Post-Covid, employees increasingly seek purpose-driven work.

• HR hesitates due to workload, limited expertise, and greenwashing risks.

Therefore, HR should partner with CSOs to align sustainability and retention strategies, boosting engagement and loyalty.

Managing people is one of the toughest challenges in leadership. While many rise to management through their technical brilliance, true success as a manager requires a balance of cognitive skills (strategy, performance, problem-solving) with emotional intelligence (self-awareness, empathy, communication). It’s also critical to realise that people are complex, and a one-size-fits-all approach to people management will never work. Effective management is not a peripheral responsibility but the foundation of organisational success. Key principles include: