One-half don't think they could do better job
As National Boss Day (October 17) approaches, few workers are angling for the top spot, according to a survey. Fifty-six per cent of employees polled said they have no interest in having their manager's position compared to 21 per cent who are interested (and 22 per cent who said the question doesn’t apply).
However, more workers between the ages of 18 and 34 want their manager's position (29 per cent) than those in other age groups, found the OfficeTeam survey of 648 workers.
When asked if they thought they could a better job than their boss, 50 per cent of respondents said no and 31 per cent said yes (while 20 per cent said the question doesn’t apply).
"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."
Potential leaders possess seven traits, according to OfficeTeam:
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 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.
