It’s no secret that poor management factors into poor employee engagement, but a September 2016 Grovo study revealed this critical employee group wants all the help it can get.
According to the study conducted by Wakefield Research, 98 percent of U.S. managers think they need more training to deal with issues like professional development, conflict resolution and employee turnover. Further, middle managers report more than 40 percent of managers at their company were unprepared for management when they stepped into the role, and less than 50 percent of their company’s managers were effective. Why? Many of these ineffective managers are frequently rewarded or promoted, according to 76 percent of survey participants.
Eighty-seven percent of the study’s more than 500 responding middle managers said that more management training ahead of being assigned or promoted to a management role would have helped.
As troubling as those numbers sound, Appirio Senior Manager of Learning and Engagement Jeff Temple said companies can change the tide — especially given the need to develop new leaders as baby boomers retire from the workforce.
“This is both an incredible opportunity for new perspectives and ideas, and a challenge for training; what makes someone a great consultant or salesperson doesn’t necessarily make them a great manager — at least not initially,” Temple said in a press release.
Close to 100 percent of survey participants said their companies offer management training; but they want more from it. Of the managers who received training, 80 percent of those who did change their behavior were only able to do so for six months or less before returning to old habits.
Survey respondents said that management training could be improved if it was more:
- Engaging.
- Easy to remember and apply.
- Supported afterward with follow-ups.
- Goal-oriented.
Bravetta Hassell is Chief Learning Officer associate editor. Comment below or email editor@CLOmedia.com.
