I keep reading about the destruction of the middle manager and the introduction of the 'player coach', and it's got me thinking. In a world where we're seeing leaders increasingly expected to own and run a significant individual contributor load, what even is a manager anymore?
Case in point from Block and Coinbase recently.
So what are these roles giving up (either completely, or to AI) that allows them to, in some cases:
Increase their span of control massively (sometimes 15+ direct reports)
Be strong on delivery, while leading a team
Curious for this communities thoughts on how the role is evolving and the possible knock on effects we'll see as a result of it.
Arguably there's never been a more important time for leaders in businesses, and yet we seem to be seeing them increasingly under threat.
I'd love to hear from you!