Manager Support Explained

What is Manager Support?

We understand that leadership comes with a unique set of challenges. As a manager, you are not only responsible for your team’s deliverables, but you are also often the first line of support for employees navigating complex personal or professional difficulties.

To help you lead with confidence, Manager Support offers targeted, practical advice and basic coaching to guide you through handling sensitive, difficult or nuanced team situations.

As a leader, you don't have to be a trained counsellor or know all the answers. Manager Support helps you feel confident and prepared.

When to use it:

This pathway is specifically designed for scenarios where your own personal well-being is not directly impacted, but you require professional guidance to support a team member.

Manager Support is helpful when you're navigating:

Conflict between team members
Delivering sensitive news likely to cause distress
Supporting a team member with mental health challenges
Managing a team member through personal hardship (financial, grief, trauma, homelessness)
Supporting a team member with neurodiversity
Challenges in a working relationship with a team member
Difficult conversations or changes

How it works:

Expert guidance: We facilitate a referral for a single session with a specialist clinician or coach.
Empowerment & education: The session focuses on equipping you with the right language, tools, and educational insights to manage the situation effectively.
Well-being first: If you are feeling personally impacted or stressed by the situation, our team will prioritise supporting and resolving your personal well-being concerns first, before connecting you to this coaching program.

How to access it:

Open the Sonder app and press the "Get Support" button
Start a chat or call
Explain the situation you're navigating
The Care Specialist may recommend Manager Support for your situation. If you would like to proceed, you'll be given a referral and the specialist psychologist will reach out to you to book in time for a practical coaching session
They'll provide tailored guidance on how to approach the situation effectively

Booking details:

Feature	Details
Session Format	All sessions are conducted via Video Call (virtual) only.
Availability	Sessions are scheduled strictly during standard business hours.
Turnaround Time	Once requested, our team aims to have your individual session confirmed and booked within five business days.

Note: This program is fully confidential and designed to give you a safe space to discuss management strategies. If you need immediate assistance with a team crisis, please flag this during your initial chat or call.

Is Manager Support therapy or counselling for me?
No. Manager Support is coaching and practical guidance on how to handle specific situations at work. A specialist psychologist will help you think through the situation, develop strategies, and feel more confident. It's not personal therapy, it's tools and approaches tailored to your role as a manager.

How many sessions do I get, and how long do they take?
Each scenario gets one coaching session. It's designed to be a focused conversation where a specialist psychologist helps you think through the specific situation, develop a plan and move forward. If you're dealing with a different challenge the following week, you can request another session for that seperate scenario.

Can I use Manager Support for HR matters, performance management or disciplinary conversations?
No. Manager Support is for supporting your wellbeing and helping you lead thoughtfully through human challenges. Formal HR processes (warnings, performance management, terminations) require your HR team's involvement. Talk to HR for those matters.