How to get ahead without managing people, with Martin Wolf
Mar 26, 2024
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Leading economics commentator Martin Wolf discusses how to advance in your career without managing people. He shares his successful 35-year career without managing anyone and the lessons learned. The podcast also explores KPMG UK's approach to balancing individual contributions and management roles for career progression.
Choosing not to manage people can lead to career success and fulfillment.
Continuous learning and development of people management skills are possible even for non-managers at KPMG.
Deep dives
Martin's Decision to Focus on Individual Work
Martin Wolf, the Chief Economics commentator, realized early on that managing people wasn't his preferred path. Despite his skills, he chose to manage himself and focus on his work rather than managing others. He found the emotional stress of managing people, especially when they faced difficulties, to be challenging and not aligned with his career goals.
Development Opportunities at KPMG
Karl Edge, Chief People Officer at KPMG in the UK, highlighted that while many employees aspire to manage teams, there are various developmental pathways at KPMG beyond traditional management roles. He emphasized that people can continuously learn and develop people management skills even if they are not naturally inclined towards it.
Balancing Individual Work and Management
The discussion delved into the importance of being a leader and driving outcomes without necessarily being in a formal management role. While management can provide opportunities to impact others positively, it's essential to find a balance between managing people and focusing on individual contributions to achieve success and fulfillment in one's career.
The higher up you go in most careers, the more likely it is you’ll become a manager. But plenty of workers want to keep doing what they’re best at, and not get involved in the messy admin and politics of overseeing other people. Martin Wolf is a leading economics commentator at the FT. He hasn’t formally managed anyone in 35 years – and doesn't’ regret it. What can we learn from Martin’s success?
Producer Mischa Frankl-Duval speaks to Martin to hear his story. Later, host Isabel Berwick chats to Karl Edge, KPMG UK’s Chief People Officer, to find out how career progression works at the company.
Presented by Isabel Berwick, produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval, mixed by Simon Panayi. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s head of audio.