📣 Please note, these events are for Agency Hackers’ members only.

If your agency isn’t a member yet, get in touch with Anne.

Middle management can be the missing piece in agencies looking to grow. 

Without it, teams either feel unsupported or senior leadership gets stretched too thin. So, what’s the best way to bridge the gap?

Do you hire experienced managers externally? And how do you make sure middle managers aren’t just micromanagers in disguise?

Adam Reaney, client services director at SEO Works, has been through this process firsthand.

“We had to insert that layer of management,” Adam says. “As we grew, we recruited from inside the team when it got to the point that we needed them – it started as taps on the shoulder of people we saw potential in.”

Now, SEO Works has a pod structure, with leaders that have grown within the agency. And it works.

“We don’t hire externally for leadership roles like that,” Adam explains. “The people we promote already know our business and our values. It just makes sense.”

But this approach isn’t without challenges. Training, mentorship, and avoiding the dreaded ‘assistant to the assistant manager’ stereotype are all part of the equation.

Adam will be sharing his insights on building your middle management:

• Why internal promotions often work best. “Hiring externally opens you up to factors you can’t control.” 
• Identifying your natural leaders. Not everyone is suited to management, and picking the wrong person can have a ripple effect.
• How to prevent micromanagement. “The immediate worry when it’s their first time in a leadership role is that everything the team does reflects on them. That leads to trust issues and micromanagement – so they might need more support and advice.”
• Why continuous leadership training matters. It’s not a ‘one-and-done’ situation. SEO Works ensures ongoing development for its pod leaders with external leadership mentors.

“Middle management gets a bad reputation. It’s a lot of people’s first taste of leadership, and some do get power hungry,” Adam admits. “But if you put the right people in place and give them the right support, it makes all the difference.”

If you’re struggling with gaps in your agency, and want to figure out how to build a strong, sustainable middle management layer in your agency, this is the session for you.