30% of Employees Say Boss Lacks Leadership Skill

October 17, 2007 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - More than 35% of employees do not consider their boss a leader and 30% of employees do not think their boss is qualified for the position, according to a survey by SkillSoft, which provides e-learning and performance support solutions.

According to a press release about the survey, employees in IT were the most likely to attest to their boss’ leadership skills (65%), while more than half of employees (51%) in sales and marketing-related roles questioned the leadership skills of their supervisor.

“This new report uncovers an all too common challenge plaguing businesses,” said John Ambrose, Senior Vice President of Strategy, Corporate Development & Emerging Business for SkillSoft, in the press release. “Managers are likely to receive little or no guidance in developing strong leadership skills. However, management training is an integral component for enhancing employee productivity, improving job satisfaction, reducing employee turnover and maintaining agility in the workforce.”

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According to SkillSoft, most of these leadership skills can be acquired through a corporate training program that incorporates a mix of e-learning components such as knowledge portals, leadership training videos and online content geared towards management and leadership issues.

The study included interviews with more than 200 employees, ranging from entry-level to executive positions across the U.S.

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