Intelligent SME.tech Issue 18 | Page 20

? EDITOR ’ S QUESTION //

OVER A QUARTER OF EMPLOYEES
NOT HAVING CONFIDENCE IN THEIR MANAGER
TO LEAD THEM TOWARDS A SUCCESSFUL REMOTE FUTURE IS CONCERNING .
TOTAL OF 26 % of employees

A in the UK feel that their managers lack the right skills to lead their teams to a successful future . The main reason being that working remote appeals to a different skill set from managers . This is shown in research conducted by Markeffect on behalf of GoodHabitz , a European market leader in the field of online courses .

The research was carried out amongst 13,615 employees in 13 European countries . Employees feel that their manager can improve the most in the areas of communication skills ( 28 %), creating a team spirit ( 24 %) and empathic leadership ( 23 %).
Concerns about a hybrid leadership
Over the past two years , almost half of the employees ( 46 %) in the UK have seen their work situation change . Only 21 % of them changed from working solely on-site to working from home completely , while another 25 % now spend their working hours partly on-site and partly remote . Now , the impact of these changes due to the pandemic doesn ’ t need further explanation . However , what is striking from the results of the GoodHabitz research is that 83 % of the working population feel that they will continue to work ( partially ) from home in the future . This means remote work is here to stay and with that in mind , over a quarter of employees not having confidence in their manager to lead them towards a successful remote future is concerning . them into a remote future . Additionally , the research also proves that many employees ( 53 %) feel that working remotely has not affected the relationship they already had with their manager over the past two years .
Furthermore , almost a quarter of employees ( 24 %) feel that these challenging times even brought them closer together . They indicate that the relationship has improved over time .
Only 14 % of employees in the UK feel a bit of distress in their relationship with their team lead . While 11 % indicate that their relationship has become worse or much worse ( 3 %) over the period of working ( partly ) remote .
Skills for the future
However , if we learned one thing over the past two years , it is that success from the past doesn ’ t automatically guarantee an equal future .
Respondents were clear on the fact that their managers still can improve certain skills . The most pertinent improvements were needed in communication ( 28 %) and creating team spirit ( 24 %).
Next to that , emphatic ( 23 %) and inspirational ( 22 %) leadership and more focus on mental health at work ( 22 %) need some extra attention too . All of these skills can easily be linked to a new kind of leadership and the future of ( remote ) work .
Every month , we pose industry experts a question pertinent to the issues of the day . This month . . . .
Motivation , support and team spirit
Luckily , not all employees feel the same way . Just half of UK employees ( 50 %) feel their managers are perfectly capable of leading

IN YOUR OPINION , WHAT QUALITIES DOES A CEO NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL ?

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