Are your managers putting your business at risk?

Whether they’ve risen through the ranks or been appointed into the role, the value of managers to an organisation cannot be underestimated. As well as helping to share the administrative burden that comes with running a business, managers also play a critical role in keeping your employees engaged and happy.

In fact, a study by Deloitte found that the relationship an employee has with their management is the most important factor in employee engagement and retention. Put simply, if an employee trusts and respects their manager, they’re more likely to perform at their best, and less likely to want to leave.

Which is why it pays to ensure your managers are at the top of their game.

Here are some of the key skills your leaders need to develop to ensure your business is set up for success:

Building Trust

According to Deloitte¹, one in five people will look for a new job because they are dissatisfied with their manager or supervisor. Dissatisfaction with management can be driven by a range of factors, such as failing to listen to employees, showing bias towards certain staff, or even by the manager failing to pull their weight when it comes to team tasks.

Effective leaders know how to seek feedback, motivate others, inspire innovation and balance workloads through effective prioritisation. By doing these things, managers can earn the respect and trust of their employees.

The Ability to Execute

There is an old saying: fail to plan and you plan to fail. Your managers need to know how to build and implement a plan, be it for a specific project or an overall business operational plan. Tasks like reporting on milestones, addressing issues or roadblocks, and keeping staff accountable are the staples of project management. If you can’t rely on your managers to follow your business plans, who else will get the job done?

Effective communication

From presentations to one-on-ones, managers engage in a variety of communication styles every day. The value of knowing how to communicate in different situations cannot be underestimated. Deloitte found that two thirds of employees who plan to leave their job say that communications have been ineffective.

Are your managers confident when presenting to a large group? Do they know how to handle an angry customer? Do your team leaders hold regular team meetings? If the answer to any of these questions is no, it’s time to invest in communications training.

Where to next?

Did you know that WA currently offers funding and incentives (including payroll tax exemption) that allow businesses to offset the cost of upskilling their managers and supervisors through nationally recognised qualifications? At The Apprenticeship Community, we have an experienced team of specialists who can provide free consultation and support so you can take advantage of this opportunity for the leaders of your business. Why not give us a call today?

 1 Source: Talent 2020: Surveying the talent paradox from the employee perspective.