UK bosses clueless on how to manage, say 70% of staff

UK firms are facing a crisis of confidence with nearly three-quarters (70%) of staff saying their senior leaders are not equipped to lead effectively in today’s global business landscape.

New research from global pure-play sustainability firm Anthesis found that, from a list of 12 options, communication was selected by almost half (43%) as the most important quality they would like to see from their senior leaders.

This was followed by having a clear purpose beyond profit (28%) and being positive (23%).

In contrast, making as much profit for the company as possible was chosen by less than a fifth (13%).

Other top qualities for effective leadership that ranked high among employees included being open to learning (22%); empowering others (22%); and being future-focused (21%).

The report identifies the five core strategies for CEOs and business leaders to provide confidence to their teams and positive impact for their businesses.

These considerations are critical, with the poll suggesting less than a quarter (23%) of employees say their senior leaders are very well equipped to lead effectively:

Although purpose is identified as the second top quality that employees want to see from their leaders, sustainability and social responsibility cannot be an adjunct, a cost, or a campaign – it must be a part of business performance.

Meanwhile, “being open to learning new ideas” was selected by almost a quarter (22%) of respondents as one of the top five qualities of senior leaders.

Agile leaders are not just those who can make quick decisions and change course when needed, but those who are constantly learning and developing their skills.

In fact, the study insists strong leadership requires strong followership. Effective communication, support, and seeking out diverse perspectives are traits that encourage followership and consistently rank highly in leadership attribute surveys, as also reflected in this new research.

In addition, leaders need to be closer to the action to understand the success or failure of the initiatives or transformation they are trying to deliver, particularly in areas such as sustainability. They also need to be closer to their people, to build both trust and understanding.

Finally, leaders who can understand and plan for a legacy will be better able to navigate the complexities of the changing environment with the courage required to make difficult choices and build for the long term.

Anthesis global head of leadership and change Becky Willan said: “In a decade defined by uncertainty, crises and chaos, CEOs and senior business leaders need to build on existing qualities and develop new skills to achieve success.

“These findings show high levels of uncertainty when it comes to the confidence of UK employees have in their senior leaders, which means leaders must really focus on the skills that really matter to employees.

“Those who thrive in these uncertain times will be those who step forward with clarity, conviction and a sense of responsibility that extends beyond the bottom line.”