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Managers must practise basic people skills, warns research
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Managers must practise basic people skills, warns research
A study by Krauthammer of employees across Europe has revealed that their commitment to their organisations is “worryingly low” and their job satisfaction is “fragile”.
And the coaching, training and consulting company is urging managers to take basic skills like listening to their staff and identifying their talent seriously.
“Senior managers especially should beware of paying lip service to crucial behaviours such as listening to their staff, while dismissing them as ‘too basic’ or by assuming an air of ‘I left all that behind me when I was a junior’,” said Ronald Meijers, co-chairman of Krauthammer’s executive board.
“Here’s a quote that illustrates the combination of ignorance and arrogance displayed by many senior managers: ‘Listening? Yeah, I had that skills training when I was 28.’ But one should remember that sophistication in management stems from the mastery of essentials!”
According to Krauthammer’s research, 27 per cent of the 309 respondents say their commitment to remaining in their organisations over the next year is low. Fewer than half – 41 per cent – are very committed to staying put, while 27 per cent are neutral or uncommitted.
Steffi Gande, co-head of Krauthammer’s research department, said: “Employee commitment is worryingly low and job satisfaction is fragile. Managers who are relying in talent weathering out the storm in the current climate, no matter how poorly people are managed, are invited to think again!”
This is the third year that Krauthammer has conducted its survey, as part of a project to develop a European dashboard of management behaviour – Krauthammer Observatory. It asked participants to name the behaviours they would like to experience from their managers and the behaviours they actually do experience.
Out of 27 types of behaviour included, two have topped the most wanted list every year – 95 per cent would like their managers to analyse their task problems together (52 per cent actually experience this) and 80 per cent would like their managers to spontaneously admit their mistakes (43 per cent actually experience this).
The rest of the top ten most wanted managerial behaviour is:
• 83 per cent would like their managers to give them autonomy when delegating (35 per cent experience this)
• 81 per cent would like their managers to consider their personal development when delegating (32 per cent experience this)
• 80 per cent would like their managers to let them finish telling them their ideas and encourage them to go on (35 per cent experience this)
• 80 per cent would like their managers to involve them in creatively solving problems and dilemmas (39 per cent experience this)
• 80 per cent would like their managers to encourage them to find a common solution in conflicts (35 per cent experience this)
• 80 per cent would like their managers to use 360 degree feedback to evaluate their talents (29 per cent experience this)
• 79 per cent would like their managers to involve them when defining their development objectives (44 per cent experience this)
• 75 per cent would like their managers to praise their good results and efforts (39 per cent experience this).
Source:
http://www.trainingjournal.com/news/2368.html
