What: The Economist reviews how the management job has become increasingly difficult and subject to contradicting forces.

Why it is important: Department stores are complex organisations where management is key.

Despite their high-ranking positions and substantial salaries, managers are increasingly facing burnout, with a survey indicating that 68% of managers experienced it in the past year, higher than non-managers. The demands on managers are intensifying, requiring not just intellectual capabilities but also stamina, as firms ask about candidates' exercise habits during recruitment.

The role of managers is critical as they coordinate people, goals, and resources, a task becoming more complex with automation and digital uniformity in knowledge industries. The shift toward soft skills like communication, trust-building, and adaptability is evident, with social skills becoming more valuable. This change is reflected in the growing number of management jobs and the emphasis on these competencies in job listings and executive training.

Diversity in the workforce adds complexity, necessitating managers to have strong social "antennae" to understand a variety of perspectives. The increase in remote work further complicates coordination, with virtual management imposing additional overhead and disrupting focus with frequent, shorter meetings.

The rise of AI, illustrated by the impact of tools like ChatGPT, suggests that some traditional management tasks may become automated. This leads to a potential devaluation of 'brilliance' in favour of social intelligence, as AI begins to handle analytical and creative tasks.

Managers are thus at a crossroads, balancing traditional expectations of expertise with the emerging demand for social skills and coordination. Amidst this transition, many feel lost, highlighting the need for managers to adapt quickly to benefit themselves and their organizations.

Middle management: the impossible job