UK employees are questioning the need for their manager as more than two-thirds believe they could do their job just as well or even better without their boss’ input.
Kimble Applications, a professional services automation (PSA) software provider discovered in their report Kimble’s Boss Barometer that 69 per cent feel they could perform just as well at their job or better without their managers’ presence.
It also found that just under half (46 per cent) of employees have little faith in their managers, as well as 56 per cent, saying they do not aspire to be like their boss or manager.
Over a third (36 per cent) feel their manager micromanages them too much, with 31 per cent even saying their boss or manager has taken credit for their work or contributions.
Fewer than half (46 per cent) feel their manager is invested in their own career growth and aspirations, this is in contrast to the same survey when conducted in the US, where a higher proportion (57 per cent) of workers believe their boss is invested in their career growth.
However, 78 per cent of employees do respect their manager and 74 per cent believes their manager respects them. Also, 68 per cent do not find it difficult to be honest with their manager and 73 per cent believe their manager is honest with them.
Mark Robinson, chief marketing officer (CMO) and co-founder of Kimble Applications said:
We are moving away from a world where it is seen as the bosses job is to tell people what to do. It is the bosses job to provide clarity of mission and to remove obstacles to the team’s success. Divesting authority to those in the know will empower employees and enable greater development of a business. Companies that fail to adapt and ride with the times will ultimately fall behind the pace.
Where hierarchies exist, it can create a culture where colleagues pit themselves against each other to impress the boss, creating a cut throat working culture. Given a large majority of workers feel they can do their job without their manager, there is a sense of animosity that some managers may be limiting growth and development of those they manage.
According to 49 per cent of employees, the most important skill a manager can have is the ability to motivate, with decision making coming in second at 25 per cent and coaching and training at 14 per cent.
In order to gather these results, the report asked 1,000 UK employees.
Darius is the editor of HRreview. He has previously worked as a finance reporter for the Daily Express. He studied his journalism masters at Press Association Training and graduated from the University of York with a degree in History.
