How much support do line managers really receive?
A new study finds 73 percent of respondents reporting that communication is valued as a leadership skill.
However, just 15 percent said training was mandatory for line managers.
Also, 72 percent of senior leaders say face-to-face briefings rank as the most effective way of engaging with managers yet they tend only to take place monthly.
A staggering 56 percent of internal communications (IC) professionals do not have access to data that could inform their communications approach.
The report from the Chartered Institute of Public Relations’ (CIPR) Inside Group finds that while the successful running of any organisation relies on effective line manager communication, and this is a high HR priority, designated line managers are ultimately being “set up to fail” through a lack of specific communications training.
A mismatch between expectations and support
The report – ‘Effective line manager communications’ – surveyed line managers, HR professionals, and internal communicators, and it showed a clear mismatch between the expectations of line managers and the support provided.
Although line managers are expected to deliver important messages, engage with their teams, and unite employees behind organisational change, the support they receive to do this is “often inadequate”.
Only 15 percent of respondents said communication training for managers was mandatory in their organisations and 51 percent said that training was voluntary.
Tension is building between line managers and HR pros
The data also showed tension between HR professionals and internal communications managers when it comes to the perceived importance of line manager communication.
Additionally, with one in five respondents confirming that HR and internal comms teams fail to collaborate, the research strongly suggests that improved collaboration between these key business functions would help enhance the communications approach for line managers.
Commenting on the findings, Dan Holden Chart.PR, FCIPR, CIPR Inside Chair said: “Time and time again, effective line manager communication has proven to be a tough nut to crack. Business leaders know it’s important in internal communication to get this right but frequently it isn’t given the requisite time, priority or budget needed to fully succeed.
“This report shows there is still a skills gap when it comes to supporting line managers to deliver effective communication. Too often when having conversations with managers, they’ve never been given the tools or skills needed to support their teams. Businesses invest in their channels such as intranets and social enterprise platforms but aren’t making the same investment in their line managers.”
Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.
