Practical ways to support your leaders when the demands of leadership start to take a toll.
Managers are in a tough spot right now.
They’re expected to lead through change, deliver results, and keep their teams engaged—all while navigating new challenges they don’t always feel prepared for. The pressure is steady, the expectations are high, and the margin for error keeps shrinking.
Most of them won’t say they’re overwhelmed. But that doesn’t mean they’re not feeling it.
In fact, a recent report found that two-thirds of managers struggle with heavy workloads, with some spending up to 75% of their day in meetings, leaving little time for deep work or team engagement.
This is where HR has an opportunity to make things more manageable and more sustainable for leaders juggling a lot.
Here are four ways to support manager wellbeing in ways that are meaningful, practical, and built to last.
1. Help Managers Communicate Change with Confidence
Managers are often the ones explaining change—but not always the first to hear about it. When they get updates at the same time as their teams—or without enough context—they’re left filling in the blanks under pressure.
You can ease the strain by:
- Looping them in early when change is coming
- Offering talking points or quick FAQs to guide their conversations
- Giving them a chance to ask questions first, so they feel prepared
The more equipped a manager feels, the more confident and calm they’ll be in the moments that count.
2. Give Them Tools to Lead Through the Tough Stuff
Leading a team isn’t just about tasks and timelines. It’s about people. And that means managers are navigating emotion, uncertainty, and interpersonal dynamics every day.
They don’t need to be experts in everything. They just need the right tools within reach.
You can provide:
- Simple frameworks for one-on-ones and team check-ins
- Quick guides for giving feedback, setting boundaries, or handling disengagement
- Micro-resources for coaching, conflict, or morale challenges
- Peer connection points—because it makes a difference knowing you’re not the only one
These tools don’t need to be complex. They just need to be useful and accessible when the moment hits.
3. Make Leadership Development Bite-Sized and Useful
Managers want to grow—but when time is tight, formal development can feel out of reach. You can build leadership support into the flow of daily work with short, timely resources.
Try:
- Adding quick learning bursts into manager meetings
- Sharing relevant refreshers based on real-time challenges
- Creating go-to guides that managers can access on their own schedule
Development doesn’t have to be a big lift. It just has to be built with their reality in mind.
4. Fill the Gaps Before They Burn Out
When a team is short-staffed, it’s often the manager who absorbs the extra work. They stretch to fill the gap—juggling priorities, providing training and support, and trying to keep everything moving with fewer hands.
It works, until it doesn’t.
And the stress is catching up—67% of executives report higher stress levels in 2025 compared to the previous year, with 82% of executives at larger companies feeling the increase.
You can help protect their time and wellbeing by
- Flagging gaps early—before they become emergencies
- Offering support when teams are stretched thin
- Exploring flexible or temporary staffing solutions that lighten the load
- Partnering with a staffing firm that can step in quickly when things shift
Proactive staffing isn’t just about filling jobs—it’s about giving managers the breathing room to lead well and focus on the work that needs their attention.
Helping Managers Lead Well Starts with the Right Support
ou don’t have to overhaul your org to help managers feel steadier. Sometimes, the most meaningful support is the kind that’s practical, timely, and just one step ahead.
At Verstela, we help HR teams ease pressure points—through smart staffing, workforce management support, and real-world solutions that meet the moment.
Let us know what kind of support would make a difference for your team—we’re here to help.
