Nearly one in four employees would like their supervisor to appreciate them more often. Close to half are ready to leave their job because of their boss, even in spite of satisfaction with the company and earnings – these are the findings of the “Leader in the eyes of employees” study conducted for Pluxee. “Leaders play a crucial role in building a team – they are also getting better at understanding that a vision and a goal are necessary to engage people,” assesses Monika Reszko, business psychologist.
“Polish leaders are becoming more and more aware, closer to what is important to them, what their needs are, not just business goals. Because being a boss, a leader, is just a part of our lives and fortunately today’s leaders are increasingly building a balance in life,” emphasizes Monika Reszko in a conversation with Newseria Biznes agency.
People managing a team are crucial for the company. Skilled managers, capable of building appropriate relationships with employees and motivating them, account for 70 percent of changes in subordinates’ engagement – according to Gallup data. However, the vast majority of leaders (81 percent) believe that appreciating employees is not the most important element of the organization’s strategy. Nearly two-thirds work in companies lacking a budget for appreciation.
Meanwhile, for employees, it is precisely appreciation and proper contact with the supervisor that plays a crucial role in work. The “Leader in the eyes of employees” study, conducted for Pluxee, shows that for almost half, a lack of appreciation, negative behaviors, and poor relationships with the supervisor can argue for leaving the company, even despite satisfying remuneration and duties.
Managers see the need for development in many areas. The study “Leader Year 2023” of the Gdansk Foundation for Manager Training indicates that building relationships with employees (81 percent) and motivating them (71 percent) were among the most important challenges for 2024. Critical thinking (78 percent) and striving for results (77 percent) are also essential. The skills that leaders would like to strengthen in 2024 are primarily resistance to stress (53 percent), work organization (47 percent), and motivation of employees (42 percent). Every tenth leader pointed to building relationships with employees.
The Pluxee study shows that nearly every fourth employee would expect his superior to appreciate him more often and thank him for diligently fulfilling his duties. Almost 30 percent believe that their superiors should pay more attention to work on these skills.
“No matter what kind of boss you are, the question is why you are a boss. If someone answers the question of what is important to them, one of those things will be that they want to achieve something in cooperation with others, this idea will pull a little, if it is attractive to others,” the business psychologist assures.
Gallup research shows that one in ten people has the talent for management. When placed in managerial positions, they naturally engage team members and customers and keep the best employees. Close to 20 percent of people demonstrate some characteristics of functioning managerial talent. Innate talent is not decisive – every manager can learn to engage the team.
“The theory of traits, that you have to be born a leader, has long been refuted. An attractive goal and the desire to cooperate with others are important, and anyone can reach that,” emphasizes Monika Reszko.
