More and more managers profess to having open door
policies, but just how comfortable are employees in approaching the boss? In
a new nationwide consumer survey, only 38 percent of working men and women
report that their managers are very willing to listen to new ideas and
suggestions for improvement.
The survey was developed by OfficeTeam, a leading staffing service
specializing in highly skilled administrative professionals. It was
conducted by an independent research firm and includes responses from 675
men and women, all 18 years of age or older and employed.
Survey respondents were asked, "How would you rate your manager's
willingness to listen to new ideas and suggestions for improvement?" Their
responses:
- Very willing - 38%
- Somewhat willing - 44%
- Not willing at all - 15%
- Don't know/no answer - 3%
- Total - 100%
"Good suggestions can come from all levels of the organization, and
employees who interact regularly with clients or vendors can offer
especially valuable feedback for improving products and services," said
Diane Domeyer, executive director of OfficeTeam. "While most respondents
note their managers to be at least partially receptive to ideas, the results
show there is still some level of doubt or inaccessibility."
Domeyer points out that welcoming employee input is a great motivational
tool. "Allowing staff to assume a proactive role in offering ideas and
taking ownership in growing the business increases both morale and
productivity," she said. "As an added benefit, by rewarding innovation,
managers encourage continued creativity and reduce turnover."
-- Article courtesy of OfficeTeam, which has over 250 locations worldwide and offers online job search
services.
