The survey of workers was developed by OfficeTeam, a staffing service specializing in the placement of highly skilled administrative professionals. It was conducted by an independent research firm and is based on telephone interviews with 431 workers 18 years of age or older and employed in office environments.
Workers were asked, "Would you like to have your manager's job?" Their responses:
|
No |
76% |
||
|
Yes |
21% |
||
|
Don't know/no answer |
3% |
||
|
100% |
Workers also were asked, "Do you think you could do a better job than your boss?" Their responses:
|
No |
65% |
||
|
Yes |
28% |
||
|
Don't know/no answer |
7% |
||
|
100% |
The survey also revealed that more workers between the ages of 18 and 34 wanted their manager's position (35 percent) than those in other age groups.
"Many aspects of management involve making difficult, sometimes unpopular decisions, and not everyone is comfortable in this role," said Robert Hosking, executive director of OfficeTeam. "Being a strong individual contributor does not necessarily equate to being an effective leader. The most successful bosses excel at motivating others to achieve great results."
OfficeTeam identifies seven traits potential leaders possess:
- Integrity. The best managers foster trust among employees by placing ethics first.
- Sound judgment. Top supervisors can be counted on to make tough decisions based on logic and rationale.
- Diplomacy. Handling challenging situations with tact and discretion is a must. Effective managers don't take all the credit for results -- they consistently acknowledge individual and team contributions.
- Adaptability. It's essential that leaders be able to think on their feet. They should be innovative while also encouraging team members to develop creative solutions.
- Strong communication. To motivate and guide employees, influential managers freely share their vision with others.
- Good listening skills. Successful bosses realize they don't have all the answers and seek input from colleagues.
- Influence. Great managers build strong networks within the organization to gain support for their ideas.
National Boss Day, observed on October 16, is a time when employees give thanks and recognition to their bosses. It will be celebrated on Monday, October 17, this year because the holiday falls on a Sunday.
Current Issue - May 2024
