Despite any grumblings you may overhear, most of your staffers respect what you do, and the majority don’t think they could do the job better.
Six out of every 10 employees don’t think they can do a better job than their boss, according to a survey conducted by OfficeTeam. The study also found an overwhelming majority of employees (77%) don’t even want the chance to do what their boss does.
The survey, however, did reveal some interesting generational and gender differences. For example, 43% of workers between 18-34 believe they can do a better job than their boss — those whippersnappers! In terms of gender, 32% of men are interested in their manager’s position versus just 10% of women.
While these findings may help stroke some fragile managerial egos, it doesn’t bode well for companies’ overall health. Most firms want their employees to move up and accept more responsibility — especially the top performers. The fact that a majority of workers are turned off by their boss’s job doesn’t necessarily mean they are content to lead a sedentary work experience. They may just be biding time until they have enough experience to take a higher position somewhere else.
So what can you do? Make advancement something that attracts — not repels — your staffers. One of the best ways to do this is by example. Always appearing overstressed and irritable conveys the message that increased responsibility is a burden, not a privilege.
Also, cross training/job sharing helps give employees more versatility, and seminars and conferences are great for educational tools (and most times, employees have at least a bit of fun).
