The Chartered Management Institute has launched a new booked called 'Six of the Best' in answer to their recent research which showed UK managers need to improve their skills and capabilities to regain competitiveness compared to other European rivals.

The feedback from employees is that managers do not demonstrate leadership qualities. Employees also feel constrained from developing their own abilities due to a lack of training and support. 

Government research has highlighted that employees in over one-third of the UK’s organisations rate their own managers as 'not proficient'.  The latest DTI’s Productivity and Competitiveness Indicators show that UK managers are seen to be lagging behind colleagues in France, Germany and the US in terms of management quality. 

Research by the CMI shows that only 39% of employees claim to see 'inspiring leaders' in their own workplaces. 

What are the three sought after characteristics that employees want to see?

·         79% - a genuine shared vision

·         77% - real confidence and trust in teams

·         73% - honest respect for employees, colleagues and customers

What are the other issues?

·         Only 36% have access to advice from their seniors through ‘informal mentoring’ opportunities

·         Only 15% of line managers are responsible for implementing team and individual training and development (this is half the number 7 years ago)

The CMI has brought six leading business experts together to share their own career experiences and highlight the core skills managers need to improve. The six will focus on the following key areas in a chapter in the book:    

• leading people
• managing change
• meeting customer needs
• managing information
• resource management
• self management: