In a recent survey, Gallup found that one in two employees have left a job due to a manager. So why are managers such a problem in today’s workplace? The truth is, managing people isn’t easy. It’s one of the hardest jobs out there.
Unfortunately, not everyone has those skills; yet those people end up in management roles anyway. In many companies, promotions are given to employees who have excelled technically in a specific role. However, very often, they do not have the actual skills needed when filling management roles. Bad managers cause stress and unhappiness among employees. And when your employees are unhappy, your company and productivity suffer.
According to Gallup, 70% of a team’s engagement is based on the manager, but only 15% of employees are engaged. When bad managers lead teams, it’s not just employee engagement that’s affected. Morale and motivation plummet as well, and that carries over to every area of employees’ professional and personal lives.
When employees aren’t engaged, they aren’t motivated to do their best work. Work quality isn’t high, as unhappy employees will only do the bare minimum. And when employees are only doing the bare minimum, your company suffers the consequences.
Management and productivity
Today’s workers need to be motivated by more than just a pay and job security. They need to feel they’re doing meaningful work and making an impact. No one can give them this feeling of purpose better than their manager.
Having unhappy employees means performance and productivity are going to suffer. IN the US Gallup estimates that the low employee engagement rate can be connected to approximately $7 trillion in lost productivity.
The solution is simple and clear: Recruit better managers.
Managers have the most direct influence on employees. They are responsible for defining goals, priorities, direction and purpose, all of which employees need to do their jobs effectively. When employees know what they’re doing, what they’re working towards and why, they are more motivated and will therefore be more productive.
Identifying great managers
The first thing you need to do to improve your current management in your company by stop promoting based on performance. While long-term and high-performing employees should be rewarded for their loyalty and achievements, placing someone in a management role for which they are ill-equipped is not the answer.
The reality is, very few of your employees are management material. According to Gallup, only 18% of those currently in management roles demonstrate a high level of talent for managing others. The best strategy is to recruit the right people for your management positions, even if they come from outside the company, and find other ways to reward loyal and hard-working employees who are not suited for management.
When filling a management role, you need to look for more soft skills than hard skills. These are often overlooked, but they are essential when it comes to management. Successful managers must excel at:
- Relationship-building
- Communication
- Team-building
- Problem-solving
- Delegation
- Communication
So look at your managers today and ask yourself whether they really have the skills to engage and motivate their teams.
