Millions of Brits are on the hunt for the ideal boss and are prepared to change jobs and even switch careers in their drive to find perfection.
New research from first direct reveals almost seven million workers have moved jobs in an attempt to find a better boss and improved working environment.
So elusive is the perfect boss that more than one in 10 (12 per cent) workers have taken up a new career entirely in their search, while one in 20 (five per cent) have decided to try their own hand at being boss and set up a business by themselves.
Leading by example
For Britain's bosses, there are some clear lessons on what would make their workplace more successful. The research reveals the five most valuable qualities for a manager are:
• Approachability (83 per cent)
• Being a good communicator (82 per cent)
• Being supportive (81 per cent)
• Being a good leader (80 per cent)
• Someone who respects their staff as individuals (76 per cent)
Bosses Behaving Badly
The first direct report also finds bad behaviour in the workplace is putting a strain on British business' bottom line. When working under a bad boss, employees report a loss of motivation (47 per cent) and productivity (28 per cent), with one in five (18 per cent) taking "sickies" as an avoidance tactic (18 per cent).
Fifteen per cent of workers have had to cover for their managers' incompetence, leading one in six (17 per cent) to feel their company has suffered as a result.
Bland bosses
The key failing of British bosses is uninspiring leadership. Under a third (31 per cent) of employees describe their boss as a good leader and almost one in four (28 per cent) as a good communicator, while almost nine out of 10 (88 per cent) say their boss is not inspiring.
first direct CEO, Matt Colebrook, said: "When it comes to fostering British creativity at work, it seems many managers are holding back the true potential of their staff. More than three quarters of workers (77 per cent) think their boss does not encourage new ideas or allow self-expression.
"The results make for bleak reading and given the current economic climate, so much untapped potential is a serious issue. But valuing workers as individuals and embracing their creativity can make all the difference."
