Weak management leads to poor business performance

Invest in management and leadership and access funding support to get your team in top class performance shape

It is no great secret that the business economy is tough in most sectors right now. The fragility and instability of markets are leading to cautious rather than optimistic business decisions, which can result in negative impact on the immediate business performance potential.

Deployment of a robust skills development strategy plays an important part in how well your business performs. Without the right skills and succession planning in place, longer term, this will harm the potential for growth as we emerge out of these constrained trading conditions.

There is another factor that hits closer to home and one that is identified more frequently as an inhibitor to business performance. ‘Weak Management Skills’ are being reported by businesses as a significant influence and one that causes more concern above lack of skills and poor engagement of employees in general.

People need to feel that despite difficulties, they can look to their managers and leaders as the source of inspiration, guidance and direction. If your managers lack the ability to be resilient, firm and fair during tough times, employees will become dissatisfied, disillusioned and lack engagement with the overall business aims.

In May of this year, Law firm Eversheds* canvassed the views of 1,500 employees which revealed:

• 58% said their manager was a poor communicator
• 47.7% said their manager was a poor decision maker
• 45.7% said their manager had no clear direction

Overwhelmingly the key attributes desired in a good manager and leader were honesty (75%), clear decision making (71%), and to be approachable (77%).

Whilst the potential for investing in training may be limited, diverting training spend to where the greatest impact can be gained is clearly the way to go. Flexibility in the design and delivery of training and development for your managers is crucial to getting the balance between your operational business needs and future potential.

We have a range of flexible programmes, can tailor training specifically to your business and subject to meeting eligibility criteria, funding support of up to £1000 may be available (matched funding).

For more details, contact Jeremy Toole on 023 92 538700
 

*  www.internalcommshub.com/open/news/badboss.shtml