Managers need to take 'a long look in the mirror', according to an expert at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).
That strongly worded advice has been dispensed by Ben Willmott, head of public policy at the CIPD, in regard to the results of its management skills survey - which revealed that managers do not know 'how bad they are at handling people', telegraph.co.uk reports.
It found a worrying disparity between managers' perceptions of their abilities and the reality as confirmed by subordinates, highlighting the importance of effective leadership training. In fact, 58 per cent of employees were satisfied with their manager's abilities, yet managers themselves believed the satisfaction rate to be at 80 per cent.
The survey also found that 90 per cent of managers said they coached new staff, yet just 40 per cent of employees said they had received such coaching. Additionally, 75 per cent of managers thought individual development was discussed in staff one-to-ones, but only 38 per cent of employees said these discussions took place.
With almost eight million people managers working in the UK at the moment, effective training is vital not only for employee engagement, but for business growth; particularly in times of austerity.
"Leadership and management capability continues to be an Achilles heel for UK plc, despite mounting evidence that these are 'skills for growth' essentials," Mr Willmott said to peoplemanagement.co.uk.
"Too many people are promoted into people management roles because they have good technical skills, then receive inadequate training and have little idea of how their behaviour impacts on others."
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