First-Time Supervisors Are Struggling, But Targeted Leadership Training Can Fix It

Managers shape how workers spend their days—how productive they are and how they feel about their work. That’s why Gallup’s 2025 “State of the Global Workplace” report showing that manager engagement fell from 30% to 27% in 2024 is alarming. Untrained supervisors (and the teams they lead) are most at risk of the impact of a “sink-or-swim” approach.

In manufacturing, new production supervisors are often promoted for their technical expertise along with their ability to optimize workflows, identify bottlenecks and hit deadlines. But the most important management abilities are soft skills. Organizations know this. You’ll see it in job postings, such as recent ones from Ford Motor Co. (“ability to hold employees accountable”) and Lockheed Martin (“coaching, mentoring or developing employees”).

These job listings are spot on. But there’s no way to assess leadership soft skills. And it’s estimated by Gallup that only 10% of workers possess a “natural” talent for managing people. Without training, the other 90% will struggle at coaching, listening, setting expectations that drive accountability and growth, or addressing unhealthy work conflict.  These are some of the most critical aspects of their new roles.

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