Dive Brief:
- The majority of managers in a recent survey said they feel undervalued and underpaid. Sixty-one percent said they stay on the job because they work well with the people they manage and their fellow managers, but others say they don't plan to stick around, according to TalentLMS' findings.
- Experienced managers may be the most susceptible to feeling undervalued, the survey revealed. "Generally, the more you advance in a company, the less help you need in your tasks — and, sadly, the more invisible you get. As a result, experienced managers might often feel like the vital assets that no one notices," TalentLMS said.
- The survey also found that support for managers is lacking. Many said that when they need help, they turn to their own manager. Others pointed to friends or a team member but 7% of respondents said they have no one to rely on. That last group is a particularly big flight risk, the results showed.
Dive Insight:
Managers — especially those new to the job — need substantial support. The need is particularly acute around their performance management duties, Josh Bersin, president of Bersin & Associates, said in a July report on the topic. "Becoming a manager is one of the most transformational parts of your career. For most of us, the transition from 'doing the job' to 'leading and helping others to do the job' is a big change," he said. "We need to learn how to set goals, listen closely to others' needs, and gain an understanding for what makes an individual, team, and organization succeed."
But employers aren't delivering. A 2018 survey from West Monroe Partners found that the majority of America’s managers have received no management training. As management shifts from a task-driven function to one focused on strategy, talent professionals may need to consider formal — and ongoing — coaching for managers, experts previously told HR Dive.
Such efforts can be expected to boost front-line worker performance and satisfaction but also should, according to TalentLMS' findings, improve manager engagement and retention.