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TL;DR
If you're a startup People and Culture Leader looking to better support managers in your business, it's crucial to understand the impact managers have on employee retention and company success.
Did you know...
👉 50% of people leave their job because of their manager, not the company.
👉 Companies pick the wrong person for a manager's job 82% of the time (Gallup).
It's also incredibly common for startup people managers to lack support, guidance and formal training and many folks end up in the role more through accident than judgement. At Open Org, the challenge of how to support people managers on a startup budget is something that has come up as a top theme in every single programme we have run since 2023 and is a monthly thread in our community of culture builders.
To help you mitigate these challenges, here are 10 invaluable resources you can share with your people managers to help support them in role.
Top 10 resources for supporting startup people managers
1. PostHog's Manager Handbook Page
PostHog is one of the most transparent companies out there. Their handbook page on Managers is a fantastic resource that outlines everything you need to know about supporting managers.
2. Google's Re: Work
re:Work with Google provides a well-known managers guide that is an unreal resource if you haven't seen it yet. It's comprehensive and a fantastic starting point for new managers.
3. Checkly's Manager Handbook Page
Checkly have built an excellent page on their public handbook for managers. It includes support, resources, courses, and advice on meetings, onboarding, and more. Great inspiration if you want to create something similar.
4. Kommon's Playbook For New Managers
Kommon offers a brilliant playbook for new managers that is easy to navigate and packed with practical advice.
5. LifeLabs' Great Managers Playbook
LifeLabs' Great Managers Playbook is a must-see resource that has an excellent opening section on how to define the role of manager in your startup.
6. Peter Benei's eBook on Asynchronous Leadership
Peter Benei does outstanding work with companies, especially remote ones, on manager enablement. His eBook on asynchronous leadership is a great read.
7. Coachable's Manager Guide
Ally Jones is an absolute superstar, providing excellent leadership development services to managers. Check out Coachable's brilliant guide on their site.
8. Jill Felska's Management Training Program
Jill Felska at Want To Work There, has created a powerful management training program at Want To Work There. It's well worth checking out for modern manager support strategies.
9. Pyn's Open Library
Pyn's Open Library offers fantastic communication guides and templates for new managers, covering topics like onboarding, 1:1s, and user manuals.
10. Esther Abraas' Top Resources For Managers
This post by Esther Abraas features some amazing resources for managers. It's definitely worth a peek!
The Importance of Supporting Managers
Manager support is one of the biggest issues within every startup, yet they have one of the biggest impact on team engagement and retention.
