Employees in Australasia now think trustworthiness and openness are the most important characteristic of a good manager.
Compared to this time last year, trustworthiness and openness has jumped from seventh to number one on the Top Ten Characteristics of a Good Manager list generated by Leadership Management Australasia (LMA).
The list has been drawn from LMA's late November 2010 L.E.A.D. (Leadership, Education and Direction) Survey of 3,000 employees across Australia and New Zealand, conducted by Chase Research*. The on-going L.E.A.D. Survey, which monitors workplace issues across all major sectors, has been running for 10 years.
This new perspective on the characteristics of a good manager is echoed in the growing importance of managers giving their people the space to do their work and supporting them at the same time (up from 5th to equal 2nd), and providing the resources employees need to do their job (up from equal 11th to equal 7th).
Characteristics of good managers - November 2010
Question. A person's working relationship with their immediate manager or managers, with whom they have frequent contact, can have a significant impact on their performance and satisfaction in their role. What would you say are the top five most important characteristics for a good manager to have, in order to positively influence your performance in your role at work?
Question. A person's working relationship with their immediate manager or managers, with whom they have frequent contact, can have a significant impact on their performance and satisfaction in their role. What would you say are the top five most important characteristics for a good manager to have, in order to positively influence your performance in your role at work?
Results
Characteristics of good managers (employee view) | Rank 2009 | Rank 2010 |
Is trustworthy and open in approach | 7 | 1 |
Clearly communicates where we are going | 1 | =2 |
Gives me the space to do my own work, but supports me | 5 | =2 |
Listens to and respects my input into decisions | 4 | 4 |
Gives regular and honest feedback on how I am going | 2 | 5 |
Is fair and even handed/makes reasonable demands | 3 | 6 |
Provides the resources I need to do my job | =11 | =7 |
Recognises me for extra efforts/results | 10 | =7 |
Coaches and develops me | 9 | 9 |
Trusts me with challenging work | 8 |
* 14% of the respondents were from New Zealand yielding the same results
