Managers not only need to coach their staff and set clear goals (‘360-degree feedback analysis reveals manager shortcomings’, Personnel Today, 22 May), they also need to inspire and motivate them.
Best practice management is not just about giving people the practical tools to do the job – they need to buy in to a shared vision, so it is worrying that managers seem overly focused on their business objectives at the expense of people management.
Research by the Chartered Management Institute found that less than four in 10 individuals see the management and leadership characteristics they are looking for in the workplace. These included: ‘genuine shared vision’ (79%) ‘real confidence and trust in teams’ (77%) and ‘respect for employees, colleagues and customers’ (73%). It is the relationship between people that results in actions.
If managers fail to show trust, respect and appreciation for their teams, it will have a negative impact on productivity, no matter how well they are able to delegate.
Jo Causon, director, marketing and corporate affairs, Chartered Management Institute
