The UK's workers want their managers to admit their mistakes more readily. But it seems they're not very good at that...
As every new manager quickly discovers (and experienced hands confirm), management is very hard to get right. The Krauthammer Observatory has run a survey of management behaviour across Europe which has found that managers continue to display real difficulties on a range of fundamental skills and many employees are having trouble coping and staying committed.
What are managers doing well? What are they doing less well? It appears that the majority of managers (60%) are behaving in an exemplary or at least operational way. However the behaviour of over a third (36%) is at best penalising, and at worst, frankly disqualifying. There are two consistently burning issues raised by employees:
1. “Help me see things differently,” say nine out of ten of employees (95%).
2. “Own up” say nine out of ten (92%) of employees. If a manager has made a mistake, s/he should accept full responsibility – spontaneously.
The report also reveals that nearly one in five people (17%), actually distrusts his or her manager.
Business pressure is an issue for many - 21% of people are finding the pressure difficult to bear – slightly more than in 2009. Managers need to be aware of signs of burn-out as employees who have survived ‘downsizing’ exercises struggle to cope with demand.
Only 65% of people are committed to staying put over the next 12 months. Only around four out of ten (39%) are very committed. Furthermore, over a third of people (36%) feels neutral or even uncommitted. This is a considerable minority – and a bigger one than last year, where ‘only’ a quarter of people felt loosely attached. Those interested in talent retention may want to keep a finger on the pulse.
Job satisfaction is the most important commitment factor, so managers concerned about talent retention and motivation may care to note that only 10% are truly satisfied, 31% feel neutral, and 15% actually feel rather, or very dissatisfied.
