The Hardest (Paid) Job in the World
No one really trains you for it.
I don’t think I know anyone who ever stated it as their “when I grow up” goal.
And today, more than ever, no matter what your job title and whatever you do, if you’re lucky enough to have this job, it’s probably only part of what you do.
One day you’re doing your job, confident, capable, good at what you do and the next, you’re a line manager.
Suddenly, you’re not just responsible for tasks, but for people: their performance, their motivation, their worries, their wins, their potential.
And that’s when it hits you. This might just be the hardest-paid job in the world.
Being a line manager asks you to juggle everything: business pressures, deadlines, budgets, personalities, and emotions.
Multiple ‘everything’s.
You’re expected to have answers, to be the calm in the storm, to keep things moving, even when you’re figuring it out as you go.
It’s tough. And relentless.
The Part No One Warns You About
Everyone has a different approach. I’ve been micro-managed, ignored, overloaded and overlooked.
But also inspired, challenged, motivated and respected.
I’ve also been a line manager.
It is not a job I relish.
It’s not my thing, and quite frankly, I find it exhausting. Coach, yes, mentor, yes, project manager, yes, department leader, absolutely yes, but line manager, please no.
I can do it, but I selfishly love to focus on my own endeavours. And whilst I love to cheerlead, I love to do it as a colleague.
And I’m not alone.
I’ve seen brilliant people promoted because they were exceptional at their jobs , only to find themselves overwhelmed by the people side of management.
Not because they lacked skill or care, but because managing people is complex, messy, and unpredictable.
It’s about listening when you don’t have time.
Giving feedback when you don’t want conflict.
Motivating others when you’re running on empty yourself.
There’s no rulebook that covers all that and most “management training” happens months or years after someone’s already in the role, firefighting their way through the early days.
Sometimes the Best Work Happens Quietly.
That’s one of the reasons Jessanol exists.
Over the years, my passion has been working behind the scenes, creating the kind of learning, onboarding, and development experiences that actually help line managers do it.
Quietly. Practically. In ways that fit the real world of busy teams, shifting priorities, and limited time.
Because the truth is, great management isn’t about perfect frameworks or motivational quotes. It’s about equipping people to lead with confidence, clarity, and care even on the days that feel impossible.
That’s where the real impact happens.
What Makes It So Hard and So Worth It
Line managers hold the heartbeat of a business. They’re the link between strategy and delivery, between leadership and employees.
When managers thrive, teams perform, culture strengthens, and people stay.
When they struggle, everything else starts to creak.
Yet most line managers still don’t get the support they need — not because organisations don’t care, but because it’s hard to know where to start.
Sometimes an external set of eyes, allowed to focus in on the problem, can bring insight and options. Can see the detail within the whole picture, and bring in external ideas and experiences that can change the narrative.
Sourcing free training and certification for a workforce that couldn’t access it themselves because it wasn’t in the budget. Enabling workers to share their talent and skills between teams and even countries, because beyond departmental budgets and targets, it was simply the right thing to do. And the workers themselves loved the international experience.
Or challenging a business to change the way they onboard, even down to the day of the week they start new hires, because operationally, starting on a Wednesday, they had the time to deliver a great first day.
And not a new training course in sight…
My work with businesses focuses on helping them build better learning experiences — ones that remove friction, simplify processes, and give managers what they need to support their teams with confidence.
It’s not glamorous work, but it’s meaningful.
And it starts with empathy.
The Quiet Heroes
If you’re a line manager reading this, take a moment to give yourself credit.
You’re doing one of the most important and most underappreciated jobs in any business.
You don’t need to be perfect. You just need the right support, the right tools, and the space to keep learning.
At Jessanol, that’s what I build, not just a course or a bespoke e-learning, but designing learning experiences that help people lead better, work smarter, and feel supported.
Because the hardest paid job in the world deserves more than a “good luck”.
It deserves a plan.
If this resonates, and you’d like to explore how to better support your line managers — or yourself — through thoughtful learning design, I’d love to talk.
You can reach me here.