Employees  Don’t  Leave Companies – They Leave Bad Managers 

Poor Management Is Everywhere  

So where does the infamous saying come from? There has been continuous research carried out into the reasons people leave their jobs, both by internal and external bodies. The study that stands out to me is this Gallup poll which found that  75% of employees had voluntarily left a job  because of their immediate supervisor or manager.   

The cost of each new hire is significant, and depending on the role can run into five figures. Therefore, every employee who leaves because of poor management is an unnecessary cost which could have been avoided.   

Poor management is unfortunately incredibly prevalent and can encompass everything from micromanagement, not leading by example, focusing on blame and even neglecting employees.  

And terrible management happens across the spectrum of organisations, not only smaller SMEs, as this next example demonstrates. 

Using a recent public example, during the lockdown, some leaders and business  owners reacted better than others  when it comes to their management skills. Tim Martin, founder and chairman of Wetherspoons,  hit the headlines for his behaviour towards his staff, refusing to pay workers amid the crisis, and as such has potentially damaged his employer brand. Wetherspoons weren’t the only company to demonstrate dreadful management either. So how can you spot the traits of a less-than-stellar manager? 

Signs of a Poor Manager  

Before we get into what makes a great manager, let’s look at some of the  mistakes  managers make that causes employees first to become disengaged, then disgruntled, and eventually leave their role.  

• Focusing on the negative  and developmental feedback rather than what is working well 

• Only giving feedback during reviews  

• Failing to address concerns or ignoring feedback  

• Missing the mark with their expectations of employee capabilities  

Many employees set their sights on being a manager, yet being a manager is not an ability that naturally occurs as an individual progresses throughout their career. 

It is a skill that can be learnt by an individual which takes time, self-awareness and lots of application!   

So, what is it that the elusive ‘good’ managers do that makes employees want to stay in their roles for years?  

What Do Employees Want?  

There will always be employees who leave their roles to move onto something different. Career changes, relocating with a partner, maternity and paternity leave; some resignation letters are unavoidable.   

But when a talented employee decides to move to a different company, doing the same role, for a similar salary – what makes them go?  

This Harvard Business Review report  looked into why people leave bad managers and what exactly it is that employees consider ‘bad’ when it comes to their managers; the results were eye-opening.   

The study used an algorithm to predict which employees would stay in their roles and who were likely to leave over six months, and then they analysed the data of those who stayed in their roles – here were some of their findings.  

• 31% of employees who stay in their jobs found their work enjoyable  

• 33% used their strengths more often  

• 37% said that they were confident that they were gaining the skills and experiences they need to develop their careers  

A significant focus for employees was on the way their managers designed their work. They found that while many organisations create a role and then find a person to slot into that role, great managers do the opposite. They find talented people, and they design jobs to fit around them.  These managers also had a knack of consistently inspiring people, too; let me explain. 

How to Be an Inspiring Manager  

As these findings have highlighted, ‘good’ managers are the ones who do not simply designate tasks, they find ways to help their team by creating meaningful roles.   

Being a manager is more than just being an individual who ensures tasks are complete; it is about  being an inspiring leader.   

Intrigued? Let’s talk

To find out how our tried, tested and trusted insight and innovation can deliver you the brightest sales and marketingtalent call
01905 381320 or email info@martinveasey.com.

For each employee consider the following –   

• What are their strengths?  

• What tasks can you assign which plays to these strengths?  

• What is their learning style? (do they prefer to listen, to watch or to get involved when they are learning a new skill?)  

It can take time to get to know your employees fully and to understand their strengths and weaknesses. A great manager does not see flaws in the employee as a failure; they focus instead on the positive skills and abilities the employee possesses.   

What Next? 

If your organisation is looking for inspiring leaders for management roles, we can help.

We help find truly inspiring individuals for senior and leadership roles. Get in touch with us today on 01905 381320 or  contact us here  to find out how we can help you recruit your next leader.   

Thank you  

Roheela  

About Martin Veasey Talent Solutions 

The Secret to your Success is Hiring Exceptional Talent.  Our Talent is helping you find it. 

• A 35-year track record successfully recruiting for blue chip and SME businesses both in the UK and Internationally. 

• Essentially, we match exceptional talent with excellent jobs.  We have a reputation for proactively finding and placing hard to reach talent into our clients’ businesses.   

• Martin Veasey Talent Solutions have a unique expertise in hiring managerial, professional, technical, functional specialists and senior executive roles, including complete teams both in the UK and internationally. 

• We place a strong emphasis on developing partnerships that enable us to get to know your business objectives, your challenges and your specific requirements.   

• We then create a tailored campaign that delivers the best talent to add value and become an integral part of your business growth and success. 

• We have invested in State of Art recruitment technology to ensure that we are always able to source the best talent, both passive and active, for our clients’ key roles.   

• Our Recruitment Solutions division is complemented by our Talent Management Solutions division, which offers talent strategy planning, psychometric testing and executive coaching. 

Business Sectors – Board & Senior, Supply Chain & Logistics, Purchasing, Manufacturing & Engineering, FMCG & Retail, Pharma & Life Sciences, Sales & Marketing, Human Resources, Construction & Civils, Interim Executives 

Divisions:  Recruitment Solutions  &  Talent Management Solutions 

So if you are looking to work with a highly accomplished recruiting partner, please call us on 01905381320 or  get in contact today.