A local dedicated coaching consultancy is warning companies across the Midlands that poor managerial performance could be costing them thousands of pounds a year after new research revealed nearly half of business owners rated their own line managers as ‘ineffective’.
Stafford-based Synergia Coaching highlighted a recent investigation from professional body the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), which found 43% of business owners and senior managers were dissatisfied with the leadership of their line managers.
The study also discovered that investing in management and leadership development activities can lead to increases of up to 32% in people performance and 23% in overall organisational performance, across businesses of all sectors and sizes. But too few employers are currently doing the right things.
Clare Barnett, Founder and Director of Synergia Coaching, explained: “The research shows that through coaching and training, managers can increase their own skills and those of their employees, empowering them to improve services and enhance their contribution to the workplace – which effectively saves them money.
“We believe that the potential of any business cannot be achieved without focusing on the ‘human element’ because people are, and always will be, at the heart of what you do. Nurture individual strengths and foster core skills within your team, and you will be better placed to improve your service and manage change.
“Weak and inexperienced management is one of the major causes of business failure. Managers have to lead a team to be motivated and accountable, otherwise disaffection can easily creep in.”
Clare – who through Synergia Coaching has devised and implemented bespoke coaching programmes for high-profile organisations such as Staffordshire University, Staffordshire Police, and the Arden Cluster, which brings together the NHS in Coventry and Warwickshire – added that a poor manager has little control over areas such as time management, and more importantly people management in general, which can often lead to serious consequences.
“A lack of understanding of the capabilities of individuals can lead to pushing an unmanageable work load onto team members, resulting in unhappiness in the workplace, and in extreme cases, forcing the individuals to seek alternative employment,” said Clare.
“The answer to avoiding some of these issues is simple – through delivering a stimulating and inventive coaching programme to individuals and teams, the performance of that organisation can be directly improved, saving money, increasing productivity, and minimising staff sickness and absence. That’s a genuine Return on Investment, one which will also help to ensure the organisation develops a positive culture and ethos that benefits them in the long-term,” Clare Barnett concluded.
The Business Benefits of Management and Leadership Development survey from the CMI draws findings from almost 4,500 managers, including 300 CEOs and 550 HR managers.
