Beyond Tasks: The 5 Real Components of a Manager’s Work

Many managers today are busier than ever — and yet, they feel less impactful.

They’re attending more meetings, responding to more messages, juggling more tools — and still feeling like they’re falling short. If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing a lot but not moving the needle, you’re not alone.

That feeling often comes from a hidden gap: we don’t always have clarity on what our work as managers actually is.

 The Need for Clarity

Job descriptions tell us what we’re accountable for. Calendars show us where we’re spending time. But neither tells us the true shape of our work.

When this clarity is missing:

• We default to firefighting and micromanagement
• We focus on deliverables but underinvest in people and systems
• We confuse activity with impact
• And often, we burn out — without building anything lasting

To lead well, we need a simple but powerful lens that helps us see our work clearly — and act intentionally.

At Impact Consultants, we work closely with organisations to strengthen leadership at every level — from frontline managers to senior executives. This model is drawn from one of our many leadership and management development programs, designed to help leaders gain clarity, act with intention, and build sustainable influence.

The 5 Components of Modern Managerial Work

Over the years — through working with managers across industries, levels, and contexts — I’ve developed a simple model to help leaders gain clarity on the full spectrum of their work.

I call it the 5 Components of Modern Managerial Work — and it serves as a map for leading with intention.

1. Deliver – Your Individual Contribution

This is the work that only you can do — thinking, analysing, writing, planning, deciding. Even in leadership roles, there are moments that require solitude and personal accountability.

Example: Reviewing a critical proposal, writing a board note, making a directional call.

2. Collaborate – Engaging with Your Team

This is the core of teamwork — solving problems together, sharing insights, giving and receiving feedback, aligning goals. Managers who skip this layer often end up with disengaged teams or misaligned execution.

Example: Running a productive team huddle, co-creating a roadmap, resolving a team conflict.

3. Coordinate – Working Across Boundaries

This is where many managers struggle. It involves working with other teams, departments, customers, or partners. It’s not just about communication — it’s about shared ownership and mutual accountability.

Example: Aligning with a sales head on timelines, syncing with ops on handoffs, managing client expectations.

4. Shape – Culture, Behaviour, and People Development

This is the invisible layer of leadership. You’re shaping how people think, behave, and grow. Culture isn’t what’s written on the wall — it’s what’s felt in the meetings, the feedback loops, the everyday tone.

Example: Coaching a team member, role-modelling ownership, reinforcing norms through recognition.

5. Improve – Making Work Work Better

Leaders must look beyond execution. Are your processes clear? Are tools being misused? Are people reinventing the wheel? Improvement doesn’t always mean big innovation — it means making work smoother, smarter, and more sustainable.

Example: Streamlining a reporting cycle, reducing unnecessary approvals, codifying best practices.

Why It Matters

Each of these components plays a unique role.

If you focus only on Deliver, your personal output may be high — but your team stagnates. If you ignore Improve, today’s urgency becomes tomorrow’s recurring fire. If you neglect Shape, you risk performance without purpose — or people who don’t stay.

Great leadership is not just about doing more. It’s about doing the right things — across all five dimensions.

Try This: A Small Step Toward Clarity

Pause for a moment and ask yourself:

·        Where am I currently spending most of my energy?

·        Which of these 5 components do I tend to ignore or postpone?

·        What’s one small shift I can make this week?

👉 Try focusing on one or two components you’ve been overlooking. Maybe it’s spending 30 minutes improving a process. Maybe it’s taking time to coach someone rather than solve it for them. See what changes.

And if you try something — I’d love to hear how it goes. Let’s learn from each other.

Up Next in the Series:

In the next article, I’ll explore how AI is transforming each of these five components — and why the most human parts of leadership matter now more than ever.

#Leadership #Influence #Impact #ManagerDevelopment #FutureOfWork #WorkDesign