Desire and reality: How responsible managers behave
Less than one-third of decision-makers and HR managers are satisfied with the sense of responsibility of managers in their own companies. This is shown by a global survey.
Lee Hecht Harrison, an Adecco Group company and a leader in outplacement and career reorientation, finds a wide gap between desire and reality in a global survey of managers' sense of responsibility. Some 2000 decision-makers and HR managers on all continents were surveyed online and at client events. For almost three quarters of them, the sense of responsibility of superiors is an important issue in the free economy. But only just 31 percent of those surveyed are satisfied with the level of responsibility shown by managers in their company. And only slightly less than half (48 percent) of managers are said to act in a truly responsible manner. There are hardly any differences in these findings worldwide.
Focus on own results targets and technical issues
The main reason for the gap between desire and reality in managers' sense of responsibility: In day-to-day management work, the company's own results targets and the technical aspects take priority. All too often, however, the targeted development of employees, the sensitive addressing of performance weaknesses or the creation of a motivating working environment are neglected. Only just over a quarter (27 percent) of respondents said their company had a strong leadership culture.
Sense of responsibility boosts corporate performance
The analysis of the survey results highlights that a high sense of responsibility on the part of superiors is associated with better company performance. Caroline Pfeiffer Marinho, Country Manager Switzerland Lee Hecht Harrison, says: "Responsible leadership is a prerequisite for building and growing a permanently successful and flexible company. This is more true than ever in this time of challenging change due to digitalization, the increase of older people in developed economies, and political and economic uncertainties."
Lack of responsible managers
The lack of responsible managers is one of the most urgent problems in the field of human resources today. The survey shows that companies are rather hesitant to tackle this problem. Just under half of the respondents do believe that strict expectations are clearly expressed to managers in their company. But only one-fifth of the companies have the courage to reprimand mediocre and irresponsible managers with a view to changing their behavior.
"Awakening the sense of responsibility"
Andreas Rudolph, Regional Director German-speaking Switzerland Lee Hecht Harrison, emphasizes: "We did this global survey specifically to reveal crystal-clearly the great extent of the gap between desire and reality in managers' sense of responsibility. We experience the urgency of the problem every day as we work with our clients, which in the U.S., for example, include half of the Fortune 500 companies. Because many companies do not consistently address the problem and thus continually promote mediocre leaders, the company's potential is not fully realized. The survey report is intended to raise awareness among companies to instill a strong sense of responsibility in their leaders and create a leadership culture to match."
Behavior of a responsible manager
A responsible manager
- Continually develops his leadership skills
- Consciously builds team members' motivation and leadership skills
- Limits harmful behaviors to a minimum
- Demonstrates a high level of responsibility towards the environment
- Always acts in the interest of the entire company
- Works with leaders at the same level to look beyond his or her traditional area and align ways of working
- Shows optimism about the company and its future
- Communicates the business strategy in a well understood manner within his/her area of responsibility
- Takes on demanding challenges and makes difficult decisions
- Demands a high level of performance from himself and the employees
Source: Lee Hecht Harrison
