Survey shows a serious lack of trust for senior managers

Tuesday 8th September 2009, 2:30PM BST.

Andrew Bagot ALMOST a third of workers have little or no trust in their senior managers, according to latest research.

The Institute of Leadership and Management and Management Today magazine’s survey of 5,600 employees from different sectors found that managers at large companies enjoyed the least trust, particularly local and national government bosses, and that workers had far more confidence in line managers than their chief executives.

Managers who enjoyed the most trust and confidence in their abilities came from retail, catering, engineering and charities.

Alliance managing director Andrew Bagot (pictured) said he believed the main reason retail bosses came out well in the research was because they were so close to their business generally.

‘We tend to see our employees every day and communicate with them on a daily basis, which is harder for people to do in larger organisations.

‘It’s very hands-on in retail. You end up being close to your staff at all levels and I think that’s why people are in retail, as that’s one of the most enjoyable aspects about it.’

Tony Jones, senior consultant at Source Recruitment, said honest and open communication was key to building trust between managers and their staff.

Keeping staff informed was essential, in his opinion, to make sure they felt part of the team.

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1
Stephen John

September 8, 2009 at 3:37 pm

If a third don’t trust their management does that mean two thirds do?

Still why let truth stand in the way of a Sun style headline

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2
Paul Le P

September 9, 2009 at 1:48 pm

Good point Stephen John – besides such a generalisation doesn’t reflect the survey accurately.

For starters, even in the article they pointed out that employees of larger companies generally trusted their managers less. No surprises there as managers of smaller companies generally see their staff more. Since trust is built on relationship it stands to reason that senior management, who have many staff, are less likely to be trusted as it’s nigh-on impossible to build a relationship with all of them.

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