Managers are facing rising workplace pressures as organisations navigate burnout, technological disruption, and new operating models, exposing significant leadership skill gaps that could affect workforce stability. A survey of 933 mid-level and senior managers conducted on behalf of Aurora University found that many leaders feel underprepared to meet evolving people management expectations despite growing organisational reliance on them.
Managing employee mental health and burnout emerged as the most significant capability gap, with 40% of managers saying they feel least prepared in this area. Nearly one in five (18%) identified supporting team wellbeing as the most emotionally draining part of leadership, followed by navigating layoffs, terminations, or budget cuts (17%). Overall, 75% reported feeling overwhelmed or emotionally drained by leadership responsibilities, highlighting the emotional toll of modern management roles.
The study also identified broader competency priorities. Managers ranked strategic decision-making (54%), coaching and mentorship (44%), emotional intelligence (41%), conflict resolution (39%), delegation (28%), and managing mental health and burnout (20%) as the most important skills required today. Confidence gaps persist, with respondents still working to improve mental health management (15%), conflict resolution (14%), and delegation (13%).
Work setting influenced readiness. Remote managers were more likely to feel unprepared for change management (32% versus 21% onsite), while onsite managers were significantly more likely to feel unready to lead remote or hybrid teams (35% versus 13% remote). Additionally, 19% of managers reported feeling limited respect from their teams, affecting communication and morale.
Leadership development support emerged as a key retention factor. While 89% said they would stay longer at organisations that invest in leadership growth, only 55% reported access to formal training programmes. Training exposure remains limited, with one-third receiving just five to 15 hours annually and 11% fewer than five hours, particularly in retail, government, and healthcare sectors. Nearly half of managers (46%) said they had turned to online searches or AI tools for leadership guidance, and 67% believe AI literacy should become a core leadership skill.
The findings, based on data collected in November 2025, underscore the growing workforce risk if organisations fail to equip managers with the capabilities needed to support employee wellbeing, navigate disruption, and sustain performance.