How caring more can make the biggest difference
Like me, I’m guessing you think you are a caring person right? How do your team feel about that?
A recent McKinsey survey published some fascinating data showing that the number one reason people are resigning from their roles is now directly related to the impact of uncaring leaders. These aren’t faceless leaders in a far corner of the planet. It’s leaders like you and me, working in companies like yours.
This situation has been getting worse over the last 2 years. Gallup published a survey this month that only 24% of people feel like their manager cares. That’s down 25% since 2020. The initial surge of COVID wellbeing and employer support has given way to the expectation of enhanced productivity and a “let’s get moving” attitude which isn’t sitting well with employees.
Now I am not saying that you are intentionally doing something wrong. But it is an issue that you need to pay attention to. What normally occurs is one of 3 issues:
- Awareness — Lack of awareness or training that these issues exist
- Understanding — Not truly understanding or delivering what employees need to help them feel cared for
- Planning — Organizations haven’t considered and discussed the new ways of working for a hybrid/post covid environment so leaders are relying on out-of-date people practices and methods to check in — which aren’t working.
The second most popular reason people are leaving their businesses is that leaders have unrealistic and unsustainable performance expectations. You can see a pattern emerging of the leader who is pressuring their staff to deliver exceptional results because they too are under pressure. Teams are running with less staff than 2020 but the deliverables are the same. Staff are on the receiving end of the expectations that don’t feel like their manager cares and they burn out and leave.
So now you know this, what would you change?
When you are ready, here are a few ways you can connect with me.
