The research, conducted by YouGov as part of REED’s quest to recognise the nation’s best managers, asked British workers about their current managers. The findings paint a positive picture of managers in the UK, who don’t micro-manage, with 47% of respondents saying they are given the freedom to get on with their work uninterrupted. They also make their workers feel comfortable (47%), give proper constructive criticism (36%) and are calm under pressure (33%).
Ultimately, workers want a manager who is fair (30%), relaxed (20%) and inspirational (19%), with Sir Richard Branson topping the poll (26%) for the famous person that workers would choose as a manager based on his management style. The least popular style of management overall was a dominant manger, with 4% preferring this kind and only 1% of people choosing Gordon Ramsay, famous for his domineering style, as their ideal manager.
Tom Lovell, group managing director, added: “With a good manager often making the difference of whether someone loves or hates a job, our research showed that many of the UK’s managers do display the qualities that are most desired by workers, such as calmness under pressure and freedom to work without micro-management. We understand how exceptional managers can make a huge difference to the performance of any organisation, both through their own actions and the positive impact they can have on the teams around them. So, with nearly half (44%) of workers saying their manager deserves more recognition, we are urging them to nominate their boss for REED Manager of the Year 2012.”
