A recent study carried out by researchers from the University of Exeter revealed that bosses misdemeanours can rub off on their teams. The study by an international team of researchers found that managers who procrastinate when making decisions and undertaking tasks leave employees feeling less committed to the organisation and more likely to display abnormal and unpleasant behaviour.
Dr Allan Lee of Exeter Business School said
‘We have found procrastination from managers can be detrimental to their staff, and companies need to take action to ensure there are better relationships between managers and employees.”
Lee and his team previously found managers who had mood swings had the worst impact on employees on workers anxiety. Even a poor but consistent relationship with a manager was preferable to one influenced by mood swings.
It’s good to say thank you
Research from One4all Rewards found that 83% of workers said that being thanked by their employer increased their feelings of loyalty to the organisation and that 65% thought gratitude for employee efforts was a critical trait for managers.
However, 77% of UK workers said that their manager neglected to thank them regularly. Alan Smith UK managing director of One4all Rewards said it was ‘clear to see’ that taking time to simply thank staff for their work and effort has a huge impact.
Coaching through change
While change is never predictable, feeling equipped can make transition easier according to research by City & Guilds Group.
76% of UK professionals interviewed said they thought coaching was helpful when going through periods of organisational change. It was said that coaching enabled employees to focus on current challenges rather than long term workplace issues.
Of the 1000 people surveyed, 79% said coaching was useful for adopting new technologies and ways of working.
64% said that coaching had become important in facilitating intergenerational working. The research also suggested coaching prevents talent from being wasted.
Among those surveyed that had changed role within an organisation, 27% said it had taken them around 4 months to work to the best of their ability afterwards. However, people who didn’t receive coaching at this critical moment were over eight times more likely to say they didn’t feel able to work at their best of their ability compared to those who did.
John Yates, managing director of City & Guilds Group says:
“With unpredictable times ahead and on-going change presenting challenges to businesses, employers need to support staff at all levels to maximise their individual performance, as well as that of the organisation.”
Quote of the day
On the subject of employee recognition…during a discussion on management behaviours, a group was discussing the impact of senior managers and the importance of greeting their team when arriving in the office each morning.
One delegate was moved to say:
‘The director comes in every morning, goes straight into their office without even making eye contact with the team, let alone saying good morning. To be honest, I don’t want to say good morning to them, but it’s not the point!!’
Fair enough?