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Have You Met an “Accidental” Manager? Research Says You Probably Have!

Imagine this scenario: A high-performing employee is promoted to a managerial role because of their exceptional technical skills. However, once in the role, they find themselves struggling to lead and inspire their team effectively. They’ve entered the realm of the “accidental manager.”

This phenomenon is more common than you might think. Research from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) in the UK reveals that one in four people in the workforce has management responsibilities, yet a staggering 82% of them haven’t received any formal leadership training. Instead of being prepared for their new responsibilities, many managers are thrown into the deep end, expected to figure it out on their own.

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Top 10 Themes for your next Leadership Team Retreat

In recent years, the headlines have been littered with stories of high-profile leadership missteps that have left employees disillusioned, companies reeling, and reputations tarnished. These cautionary tales serve as stark reminders of how even seasoned executives can falter under the weight of their responsibilities or fail to read the room.

Take, for instance, AirAsia’s CEO Tony Fernandes, who sparked a storm of criticism for an inappropriate social media post. The post, which many found to be tone-deaf, highlighted how leaders can sometimes misjudge the public’s expectations of their behavior. Similarly, Andi Owen, the former CEO of MillerKnoll, faced backlash for making insensitive comments during a town hall meeting—a moment that was meant to rally employees but instead alienated them.

Another striking example is the recent uproar surrounding Baldvin, a US-based CEO, who reportedly fired 99 employees following a missed meeting. The news, shared by an intern on Reddit, quickly went viral, igniting widespread outrage and painting a grim picture of leadership disconnected from empathy and foresight.

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Top 10 Themes for your next Leadership Team Retreat

Organizing a Leadership Team Retreat can sometimes be a nerve wracking experience if you are an HR Lead. Most CEOs whom we interact with like to have some overarching theme or story for such meets that aligns with their thinking. And to be fair, that is probably a good idea. However, we see too many of these meets have such corny taglines that flop miserably. So here are 10 ideas that you can try out for the next time.

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