Why do Employees really leave their Jobs?

Businesses can underestimate the power of good leaders in increasing employee engagement, motivation and retention. When employees resign, many are actually leaving their manager rather than leaving the company.

During my working life, I have had good and bad bosses and this was the single biggest single factor of whether I stayed or left a company. Of course, there can be other factors determining whether you stay or leave a job but who manages you and how they go about it is a key factor. A boss sets the tone of an organisation.

How does a bad manager affect an employee?

Coping with a bad boss for five days a week can even wear out the most tolerant and loyal employees. According to an article published by the World Economic Forum, 70% of employees consider themselves to be disengaged at work. The University of California found that disengaged employees are 31% less productive, are three times less creative and 87% more likely to resign than motivated employees.

How to improve the quality of your leaders

There is increasing evidence that happy workers are more productive workers which translates into good business. More investment is needed in recruiting managers and providing ongoing training. A manager's job is to enable a good working environment for his/her employees. Few things are as costly and disruptive as managers who drag down the morale of employees. Many bosses can manage processes or have strong technical skills but that doesn’t necessarily translate into motivating and inspiring workers.

What leadership issues need to be resolved?

A common problem is that some managers are afraid to hire people more knowledgeable than they are. They feel threatened or intimidated by the success of employees. This shows a lack of confidence in their leadership abilities and is where management training, coaching and mentoring can help.

Poor leaders will not genuinely care and will not give credit where credit is due. They are uninterested in empowering and trusting employees and wanting them to succeed. They micromanage and overstress their employees.

I have experience of a particular boss who would shift responsibility when something went wrong but expected employees in his team to stand up and take responsibility when the error was theirs. This led to poor morale and resentment. Managers need an element of self-awareness and can learn from accepting feedback.

What skills does a good manager need?

Strong managers are generally good problem solvers. A good boss can make the most mundane job more interesting.

Transparency and following through are essential to gain the trust of the team. A good boss will coach, mentor and encourage and listen to employees and show empathy. A strong leader will be available to their team.

A strong manager will understand that employees want a healthy, non-toxic environment to work in. The boss will support them in their work and take an interest in their development. They are good communicators, making expectations clear.

Keeping employees engaged and productive is the mark of an excellent boss. It can help keep the cost of staff turnover down in a company leading to a win-win for all involved.