The State of the American Manager
from the Turning Good People Into Top Talent blog series
The May 2015, The State of the American Manager: Analytics and Advice for Leaders report provides an in-depth look at what characterizes great managers and gives organizations the knowledge to find, hire and develop additional great managers using Gallup’s accumulated analytics and advice as their guide. This report is based on over four decades of extensive talent research, a study of 2.5 million manager-led teams in 195 countries, and measurement of the engagement of 27 million employees.
I believe it is one of the most authoritative sources of the causes and solutions to the employee disengagement problem.
Here are a few highlights of the report.
- Just one in 10 have the natural, God-given talent to manage a team of people.
- A manager with little talent for the job will deal with workplace problems through manipulation and unhelpful office politics.
- Hiring talented managers can mean a 48% boost in profitability.
- High employee engagement affects everything that matters.
- Great managers spur ongoing performance management activities.
In the report, Gallup Chairman and CEO, Jim Clifton, make this shocking statement, “Most CEOs I know honestly don’t care about employees or take an interest in human resources. Sure, they know who their stars are and love them — but it ends there. Since CEOs don’t care, they put little to no pressure on their HR departments to get their cultures right, which allows HR to unwittingly implement all kinds of development and succession strategies that don’t work.”
I have only one question, “What is wrong with this picture?” There is an abundance of information, research and analytics to validate the ROI on improving engagement levels.
I recommend picking one of the three areas the Talent Management Institute focuses on: Selection, Alignment and Development – and get started!
Whoever takes the initiative will become a hero with the ROI to prove it. I would like to be your partner in that effort.
Visit www.TalentManagementInstitute.com and become a member of the community (free to join).
Bob
Bob Moore, CMC
Managing Principal, Talent Management Institute
“Turning Good People Into Top Talent”
www.talentmanagementinstitute.com