Becoming a manager is typically considered a positive step in someone’s career. Moving into such a prestigious and potentially fulfilling position is seen as an accomplishment, a clear sign that an organization trusts the employee to handle more responsibility. There is, however, evidence that some people experience “managerial blues,” or disenchantment with their managerial job, viewing it as less meaningful than their previous one. Such disenchantment can easily push people to exit the managerial ranks not long after joining them, creating potentially a huge loss for the employee’s career and the organization.
Research: Becoming a Manager Doesn’t Always Feel Like a Step Up
Being promoted from the frontlines to a managerial position may seem like a step up. But for some, this new role can be disenchanting, resulting in good employees leaving their positions. To better understand who might experience “managerial blues,” researchers interviewed two types of employees promoted to management positions in the Paris subway system: former drivers and former ticket agents. They found that the drivers, who regularly dealt with protecting riders and life-or-death situations on their own, developed a heightened sense of personal responsibility that was central to their identity as workers — something they missed in their new role as a boss. In contrast, the former ticket agents found a great deal of meaning as a manager. These results can help companies better onboard new managers depending on their former roles, and might be particularly relevant to health care workers and police officers as well.