Stuck in the Middle: Why Managers Burn Out

Let’s be honest: most managers don’t know how to solve problems. They spend their days firefighting issues they don’t understand, slapping on plasters, and praying the next disaster waits until they are on holiday. Enter Ed Wells, Chief Strategy Officer of What Caused This, who’s here to explain why your organisation’s approach to problem-solving is probably as effective as the proverbial chocolate teapot.This episode explains the messy, often ignored world of root cause analysis—not just as a buzzword, but as a way to stop repeating the same mistakes. Ed breaks down why complexity isn’t going away, why your quick-fix mentality is costing you more than it’s saving, and why the "five whys" method is just the start.Ed explains to Jimmy and James, ever the sceptics, that this is just for specialists and pointy heads. Whether you’re dealing with a train company blaming "lack of staff" for delays (while ignoring the fact they sacked half the workforce) or a football club sacking managers like it’s a hobby, the lesson is clear: if you don’t dig deep, you will never understand the causes of your problems.Key points:Complexity isn’t a trend—it’s the new normal, and your old problem-solving habits won’t cut it.Root cause analysis isn’t just for disasters; it’s for preventing them (and maybe even improving things).The "golden four" criteria for solutions: Will it work? Can I do it? Can I afford it? Will it backfire spectacularly?Teams solve problems better than lone wolves—but good luck getting one when the budget’s been slashed.If you don’t track your fixes, you’re doomed to repeat the same mistakes. So, if you’re tired of putting out fires only for them to reignite the second you turn your back, this is your wake-up call. Or, as Ed might say, your chance to stop being the hare and start being the tortoise—before the race ends.Got a question - get in touch. Click here.

Ever been stuck delivering a message at work that makes you froth at the mouth like a rabid dog? Welcome to the club. This week on A Job Done Well, Jimmy and James tackle one of the most soul-crushing tasks a manager faces: delivering a decision you know is wrong.From performance management systems designed by third-rate sportsmen to closing sites for arbitrary profitability targets, the hosts dissect the emotional toll, the credibility crisis, and the sheer absurdity of corporate life. They explore why it’s so stressful, and why some battles are just not worth dying in a ditch for.But it’s not all doom and gloom. Jimmy and James also share hard-won wisdom on how to handle these situations without losing your mind, your credibility, or your job. Whether it’s picking your fights, translating corporate nonsense for your team, or knowing when to just suck it up, this episode is a masterclass in surviving the corporate madness with your sanity intact.Five key points:Delivering a message you don’t believe in is one of the toughest asks of a manager—it’s emotionally draining and compromises your credibility.The stress comes from the emotional load, loss of control, and being accountable for someone else’s screw-ups.Bad coping mechanisms include checking out, passive resistance, blind compliance, and public meltdowns—all of which erode trust and effectiveness.Good strategies involve using data to argue your case, being honest with your team, and picking your fights wisely.Sometimes, protecting your integrity means knowing when to push back—and when to walk away.Got a question - get in touch. Click here.

Bad bosses: the office equivalent of a microwave with a broken timer. It either leaves your career frozen in the middle or burns it to a crisp, and you’re never quite sure which setting it’s on today. In this episode of A Job Done Well, Jimmy Barber and James Lawther dissect the scourge of the workplace: the boss who turns a dream job into a daily grind. With a mix of war stories, dry humour, and hard-won wisdom, they explore why a bad boss can overshadow even the most rewarding roles, and—more importantly—what you can do about it.From the hypocrites who preach morality while chasing bonuses, to the indecisive leaders who’d rather watch a business burn than make a call, Jimmy and James leave no stone unturned. They tackle the personal nature of bad boss experiences (one person’s nightmare is another’s mentor), the traps employees fall into (avoidance, bitching, disengagement), and the rare but glorious moments when understanding your boss’s pressures—divorce, imposter syndrome, or just being in over their head—can turn a toxic relationship into a tolerable one.But let’s be clear: this isn’t a self-help seminar. Sometimes, the only solution is to wait it out, adapt, or—if all else fails—run for the exit. Because, as they remind us, no boss lasts forever. And if you’re lucky, neither will the damage they inflict.Five key points:Bad bosses have a disproportionate impact on job satisfaction, often overshadowing even the most rewarding roles.Only about 10% of bosses are truly bad, but their influence can feel all-consuming.Common bad-boss traits include inconsistency, hypocrisy, indecisiveness, and lack of clarity.Employees often fall into traps like avoidance, reinforcing bad behaviour, or becoming cynical and disengaged.Practical solutions include understanding your boss’s pressures, improving communication, and knowing when to cut your losses and move on.Got a question - get in touch. Click here.

Welcome to another episode of A Job Done Well, where Jimmy and James dissect the brutal reality of middle management—a role where you’re accountable for everything and in control of nothing. This week, they expose the absurdity of being the corporate shock absorber: squeezed between bosses who demand miracles and teams who resent you for failing to deliver them.From the horror of “Project Hessian” (a type of sacking) to the farce of forced rankings, Jimmy and James share their war stories: translating mass culls into PowerPoint-friendly language, faking operational maturity scores, and watching as outsourcing contracts backfire spectacularly. They reveal why middle managers burn out faster than a fuse in a power surge—thanks to emotional whiplash, powerlessness, and the relentless pressure to keep everyone happy (hint: it’s impossible).But it’s not all despair. The duo offers hard-won, practical advice: push back with facts, stop owning every problem, and—when all else fails—go for a bloody walk. And to senior managers listening: remember where you came from, or risk creating a “frozen middle” so disillusioned they’ll start gaming the system just to survive.Five Key Points:Senior managers: your frozen middle remembers your hypocrisy. Set them up for success, or prepare for mutiny.Middle management is corporate purgatory: all accountability, no authority.Emotional labour is the real killer—translating “sackings” into “strategic realignment” will age you prematurely.Remember the “umbrella” analogy: you need to shield your team, but they need to know it is raining.Honesty is your best weapon. Admit when you’re powerless—your team (and your sanity) will thank you.Got a question - get in touch. Click here.

Managing people is the corporate equivalent of being handed a live grenade with the pin already pulled. You’re promoted because you’re brilliant at your day job—only to discover that managing humans requires a completely different skill set, one nobody bothers to teach you. Welcome to the brutal, hilarious, and occasionally soul-crushing reality of middle management.In this episode of A Job Done Well, Jimmy and James dissect the moment they realised they were woefully unprepared for leadership. From James’s early days of bollocking subordinates (and then apologising) to Jimmy’s face-off with a delusional cashier who insisted she was never late (spoiler: she was), they expose the absurdity of being thrust into a role that demands empathy, judgment, and the ability to fake confidence while secretly questioning every decision.The hosts explore why organisations promote technical experts into managerial roles without a shred of training, and why the so-called “soft skills” are actually the hardest to master. They also reveal the uncomfortable truth: even after decades of experience, you’ll still encounter situations that leave you out of your depth. Whether it’s navigating office politics, handling emotional meltdowns, or simply learning not to micromanage, managing people is less about control and more about creating an environment where everyone—including you—can do their best work.Got a question - get in touch. Click here.

This week, Jimmy and James are joined by Paul Howley—a former radio astronomer turned corporate transformation expert—to dismantle the myth that technology is the answer to all organisational change. Here’s the truth: it’s not. With 36 years of experience across airlines, utilities, and financial services, Paul explains why most tech-driven transformations fail (70% of them, according to McKinsey) and how middle managers can deliver real change without a single line of code.The episode exposes the absurdity of chasing AI, new platforms, and digital tools as quick fixes. Instead, Paul shares a case study from financial services where a mortgage lending team went from a net promoter score of -11 to +80—not by buying software, but by fixing broken processes, ditching "ghost policies," and empowering frontline staff. The result? Happier customers, lower costs, and a 20% reduction in processing time.Key points:Tech is not the answer—it’s often a distraction from the real problems.Focus on outcomes, not tools—most transformations fail because they lose sight of why they started.Middle managers can be heroes—by fixing small, broken processes, they can deliver big results without big budgets.Bravery beats buzzwords—it takes guts to challenge the status quo, but the rewards are worth it.Customer obsession is free—organise your team around what customers actually need, not what’s easiest for the organisation.If you’re tired of watching IT projects fail and want to make a real difference, this episode is your playbook.Got a question - get in touch. Click here.

After a hundred episodes of dissecting corporate nonsense, Jimmy and James finally admit what you already knew: the system is rigged, your boss matters more than your paycheck, and no one cares about your career as much as you do. This isn’t a highlights reel—it’s a reckoning.From the delusion that “people can overcome a bad system” (spoiler: they can’t) to the farce of corporate purpose (hint: it’s usually just “make money”), the hosts expose the recurring patterns that make managers’ lives a living hell. They dissect how HR incentives turn good people into metric-gaming zombies, why your boss’s shadow looms larger than the company logo, and the cold truth that your employer will never love you back.But it’s not all doom. There’s power in clarity: defining your team’s purpose (even if it’s just “sell more”), choosing your boss like you’d choose a flatmate, and detaching your ego from the corporate machine. And yes, it’s still all about people—flawed, emotional, and impossible to reduce to a spreadsheet.So pour yourself a drink (or don’t—AA’s Serenity Prayer gets a shoutout) and listen to the hard-won wisdom of two men who’ve spent 100 episodes telling you what no one else will.Five Key Points:The system always wins. No matter how brilliant your team is, a badly designed system will make them feel incompetent—and it’s not their fault.Purpose isn’t wallpaper. If your organisation’s “purpose” doesn’t match what actually happens, you’re just lying to yourself (and your customers).Your boss > your brand. That logo in the foyer? Irrelevant. Your boss’s ability to provide direction, space, and support? Everything.Your employer is not your friend. Redundancy, restructuring, or being passed over for promotion isn’t personal—it’s just business. Detach your ego.Manage your career or someone else will. If you outsource your career decisions, don’t be surprised when they’re made in someone else’s interest.Got a question - get in touch. Click here.

Fitting in at work isn’t just about wearing the right shirt or laughing at the boss’s jokes—it’s about survival. Or at least, that’s how it feels. This week on A Job Done Well, James and Jimmy are joined by Gestalt psychotherapist Dawn Wray to dissect the dark art of "fitting in" and why it’s more psychologically taxing than a Monday morning spreadsheet. It’s not about your social skills. It’s about the ancient, visceral patterns of belonging—or not—that shape how you show up at work, how you hide, and how you might just lose yourself in the process.Dawn pulls no punches: fitting in isn’t just uncomfortable, it’s exhausting. It’s the constant, unconscious negotiation between who you are and who you think you need to be to avoid rejection. It’s the shirt you tuck in, the opinions you swallow, and the banter you force yourself to laugh at—all while your brain screams, "This isn’t me." And when the gap between your authentic self and your "work self" yawns too wide? Welcome to burnout, anxiety, and the slow erosion of confidence.But here’s the kicker: not fitting in isn’t always a bad thing. Sometimes, it’s growth. Sometimes, it’s the friction that forces change. The trick? Knowing the difference between the discomfort of stretching and the soul-crushing drain of pretending. Dawn’s advice? Slow down. Pay attention. Notice when you’re holding your breath in meetings or rehearsing your personality before walking into the boardroom. And ask yourself: Are you adapting, or are you disappearing?James and Jimmy riff on the absurdity of corporate "professionalism" (read: conformity), the myth of the "perfect fit," and why the most dangerous employees might just be the ones who never complain. Because if everyone’s nodding along, someone’s lying—and it might be you.Five Key Points:Fitting in isn’t about skills—it’s about survival. Your brain treats workplace rejection like a threat to your safety, thanks to patterns wired in since childhood.The cost of conformity: Swallowing your opinions or faking enthusiasm doesn’t just feel bad—it drains energy, fuels anxiety, and can tank your performance.Not all discomfort is equal. Growth feels energising; self-betrayal feels like dread. Learn to tell the difference.The "professionalism" con. What’s often sold as "professional" is just socially sanctioned masking—tuck in your shirt, shut up, and smile.The ultimate question: Are you adapting to thrive, or editing yourself to survive? And if it’s the latter, how long can you keep it up?Got a question - get in touch. Click here.

Welcome to the 100th episode of A Job Done Well—where we celebrate the art of calling out corporate nonsense and replacing it with something that actually works. This week, we’re joined by John Seddon, a management thinker so influential he’s got his own Wikipedia page (unlike James, who may or may not have written his own). John’s spent decades proving that traditional management—targets, incentives, standardisation—doesn’t just fail to improve performance; it actively makes things worse.John’s approach is simple: stop incentivising the wrong things. Most organisations reward behaviours that undermine their own goals. Engineers rushed to fix boilers in 15 minutes? They’ll be back six times a year. Call centre agents hitting sales targets? They’re hanging up on customers who won’t buy. Incentives don’t drive performance—they drive gaming, cheating, and a race to the bottom.Highlights include:Why failure demand—work caused by previous errors—is crippling your team (and how to spot it).How to redesign systems so your team can actually use their judgment (instead of following scripts).The Aviva case study: How blending call centres boosted capacity by 20%—without adding staff.Why specialisation is a myth, and how it’s costing you more than you think.How to make your boss curious about what’s really going wrong.If you’ve ever watched your team chase targets while the real work piles up, this episode is your wake-up call. John’s not here to sell you a quick fix—he’s here to help you burn the rulebook and start again.Key Points:Incentives create perverse outcomes—people game the system, not improve it.Failure demand is a symptom of a broken system, not lazy staff.Specialisation sounds efficient but creates silos, inefficiency, and frustration.Redesign systems around customer purpose, not internal targets.Leaders won’t change unless you make them curious—show, don’t tell.Got a question - get in touch. Click here.

You don’t need better time management.You need to stop agreeing to things you shouldn’t be doing. Saying no isn’t about being difficult—it’s about protecting your priorities, your sanity, and, ironically, your relationships. In this episode of A Job Done Well, Jimmy and James dissect the art of the polite but firm refusal, exposing why so many of us default to “yes” and the damage it quietly inflicts. From the social wiring that makes us people-pleasers to the hierarchical pressures of the workplace, they unpack the psychological traps that turn us into overcommitted, underdelivering messes.The hosts share their own cringe-worthy tales of saying yes when they should’ve said no—James’s ill-fated stint as a 70th-birthday party host, Jimmy’s recency bias leading to future regret, and the time a bully of a boss met his match with a single, unapologetic “no.” They reveal how saying no isn’t just liberating; it’s a career-saver. Overcommitting leads to half-baked work, missed deadlines, and a reputation as the office “yes man”—a fate worse than being the person who occasionally pushes back.But how do you actually say no without burning bridges? Jimmy and James offer tactical advice: negotiate trade-offs, redirect requests to the right person, or simply be honest about your capacity. They also challenge listeners with three hard questions: What are you saying yes to that you resent? Who do you need to have a more honest conversation with? And if you said no to just one thing this month, what would it be?The episode’s core message? Every “yes” is a “no” to something else. Whether it’s your daughter’s nursery pickup, your own mental health, or the work that actually matters, learning to say no is about owning your priorities—not your boss’s, not your colleagues’, and certainly not your future self’s.Five Key Points:Social wiring and hierarchy make saying no feel like a career risk—but the real risk is overcommitting and underdelivering.Saying no can earn respect. The bully who never troubled James again? The boss who valued Jimmy’s honesty? Boundaries build credibility.The “yes man” trap: Agreeing to everything leads to a reputation for unreliability. Reliability beats availability.Tactics for saying no: Negotiate trade-offs, redirect requests, or be honest about your capacity. It’s not confrontation—it’s clarity.Every yes is a no to something else. Protect what matters most, whether it’s family time, focus, or your own well-being.Got a question - get in touch. Click here.