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Key insights:
75% of workers say their team would function the same or better if their manager vanished for a month, with 16% asking another colleague for advice and 49% turning to AI.
78% have been handed responsibilities they would expect a more senior colleague to handle, with 71% having performed manager-level duties in the past year.
31% say making their own decisions autonomously helps them to get ahead at work. However, 61% would only take a more senior role if the wage was worth it.
The career ladder used to be fairly straightforward: do the job, prove yourself capable, earn the title. Each rung had its own set of responsibilities, and the person below always answered to the person above.
However, as middle management continues to shrink and AI takes on an increasing role in the workplace, junior employees are taking on tasks autonomously and being asked to step up without the promotion or the pay rise.
Headway app surveyed 1,000 people on the workplace leaders they turn to, whether their responsibilities reflect their current title, and whether progression motivates them (or the prospect of more pay).
From bosses to bots: Who are workers turning for advice?
Given the opportunity to fire their managers, most would consider it. Not because they’re too demanding or too controlling, but because the team has figured out how to work perfectly fine without them.
Some 75% say it would be business as usual, or better, if their manager took leave for an entire month – with 15% convinced it would strengthen the team.
When there’s a call to make or a task to assign, 62% of workers still look to the official manager. However, 38% are shunning titles, either deciding for themselves (22%) or asking another team member (16%).
However, in many workplaces, there’s a group of new starters climbing the ranks: Claude, ChatGPT, and other chatbots. Some 49% of workers have turned to AI for advice instead of their manager, with 19% doing so regularly.
Taking charge (without the title): Stepping into management
There’s a fine line between ‘entry level’ and ‘entirely in charge’ these days – 78% of workers have been handed responsibilities above their pay grade, with 39% regularly given tasks they would expect a more senior colleague to take charge of.
At least all that stress and overtime pay well, right? Actually, 71% of workers have taken on managerial duties in the past year without receiving anything in return.
No impressive new title or wages to reflect their extra contribution. Just the responsibility of mentoring and training colleagues (41%), making decisions (34%), coordinating projects and people (31%), covering for managers (26%), and onboarding new hires (22%).
Yet, many are happy to receive some extra, early experience. After all, 31% say workplace growth comes from making good decisions autonomously, without someone telling you what to do and how to do it. You’ll never learn without the chance to call the shots.More important, however, is being good at your job, according to 34% of workers. If you’re on the right track, you’ll excel in whatever roles and responsibilities leadership throws at you.
Big shoes, big stakes: The risks and rewards of taking the lead
AI is gaining experience in the workplace and constantly improving in the role. That’s giving junior staff the ability and confidence to take on senior tasks.Yet, the human prompting it is always in charge. When AI hallucinates, misinterprets information, or makes a costly mistake, the responsibility ultimately sits with the person using it – even if they have limited experience, according to 56% of people.
With middle management shrinking and AI providing assistance, employees have more opportunities to learn, impress, and show their potential.But is taking the next step up the ladder worth the extra expectations and workload? According to 61% of workers, the answer depends entirely on the salary on offer.Fancy titles and a sense of achievement are all well and good, but they don’t pay the bills.
Methodology: To create this study, researchers from Headway surveyed 2,000 professionals of all genders, aged 18 and over.
About Headway
With over 55 million users in 170+ countries, the Headway app is the world's most downloaded book summary app. It offers 15-minute audio and text summaries of nonfiction bestsellers, as well as daily microlearning sessions and gamified challenges. The app is designed to help people achieve their self-development goals. Headway received the Editor's Choice award from the US App Store and constantly hits the App Store home screen as App of the Day.
