'Boss swap' - almost a third of employees would trade in their manager
According to a poll, conducted for Investors in People by YouGov, almost one in three Yorkshire and the Humber employees (32%) would swap their manager if they could - with more than a quarter (28%) claiming they could do a better job themselves, given the chance.
Employees think managers could do better
The research suggested that poor communication by managers could be the reason behind this employee dissatisfaction. The ability to communicate effectively was listed as the most important quality for a successful manager by respondents in Yorkshire and the Humber, yet over a third (34%) said their manager was not good at communicating with them.
The research also shows that the most popular type of manager in Yorkshire and the Humber is someone who delegates (38%), followed by someone who is firm but fair (28%), and someone who looks after employees' careers (11%).
David Hodges, Regional Director of Skills for the LSC in Yorkshire and the Humber comments: "This poll identifies good communication as the most important skill of a good boss and that managers need to set clear tasks and targets for their staff. But, we should ask ourselves, are good bosses born or trained? Communication is a skill that can and ought to be developed and organisations in our region will benefit from more skilled management.
"By entrusting employees with more responsibility, and mapping out a path for progression within an organisation, managers can ensure the commitment of their staff in a way that will sustain productivity and the success of their organisation in the future."
Communication is a key skill
The LSC takes the issues surrounding leadership and management education very seriously and funds the 'Centre of Vocational Excellence' (CoVE) at Craven College in Skipton.
The CoVE is specifically dedicated to Leadership and Management for Small Businesses and helps to develop, maintain and deliver high quality specialist education for the Craven area. CoVEs are specialist areas of vocational provision and one of the main aims of the programme is to develop appropriately skilled and qualified personnel with excellent employment and career prospects. The college is currently being refurbished to reflect its importance as a Centre of Leadership and Management.
David Hodges continues: "This poll complements our own research. The LSC, in partnership with the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and the Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA), commissioned the National Employers Skills Survey (NESS) 2005 that emphasises the essential role of training and education for staff at all levels.
"With two million people working for 130,000 employers, Yorkshire and the Humber represents nearly 10 per cent of the UK's workforce. But we must increase commitment to training, at all levels, if we are to compete on a national and international stage. There is no room for complacency."