Besides factors that create a great place to work such as building trust, fostering open communication and caring for employees as individuals, managers have a major impact on employees’ productivity and engagement, stated a global study by the UKG Workforce Institute.
In India, about three in four employees (72 per cent) say their manager’s support, encouragement, and/or their leadership directly motivates them to go above and beyond in the workplace, and two-fifth of employees (40 per cent) say having a good manager — one who’s accessible but doesn’t micro-manage — makes them feel the most productive at work.
Moreover, according to the UKG study, 91 per cent of employees agree that their managers give them actionable feedback to help improve their performance and create clear performance goals with them, 88 per cent employees state that their manager values diverse perspectives, and 86 per cent employees feel empowered by their managers to do their job.
Another interesting finding of the study stated that 89 per cent of employees in India claim to be highly motivated by challenges and extra responsibility at work and 84 per cent employees believe that their manager cares and has empathy for them. However, having said that, 78 per cent also said that they experience some form of job burnout, leading to physical and emotional exhaustion. So much so that 64 per cent employees would readily accept a workload reduction for a commensurate pay cut. Globally, the study said, managers also report the highest levels of burnout at work, underlining the critical need for more organizational support in order to be the most effective in their roles.
The shifting workplace culture in India
Per the findings of the report by UKG, 76 per cent employees from India believe that their work is more than just a ‘job’ to them and has a special meaning, and 72 per cent employees genuinely think that they make a difference in their organisation. This shift in work culture towards a more purpose-driven approach to work is being driven by changing dynamics of workplace culture, along with managers that prioritize employee engagement and growth.
According to the findings of the study specific to India, 80 per cent employees confirmed that their organisation provides learning and development opportunities for their professional growth, while 75 per cent say that their organisation celebrates people who try new ways of doing things, regardless of the outcome. Also, 68 per cent employees agree that their workplace embraces diversity and is intentional about creating an inclusive culture.
Trust, the new workplace currency
In India, trust is emerging as a cornerstone of a thriving workplace. The study revealed that 94 per cent of managers place their trust in employees. The survey revealed that 83 per cent of managers encourage employees to take calculated risks, thereby empowering them to innovate and drive the business forward.
Sumeet Doshi, Country Manager at UKG, India, said, “There is an emerging culture of promoting trust, transparency and accountability in workplaces across the world, and managers are the major driving force behind this shift. The study is reflective of this fact as it finds 91 per cent Indian employees well-informed by their managers on leadership decisions, and 87 per cent employees observing how effective their managers are in resolving conflict within the team.”
He added, “It is important to understand that in an organization, change starts at the top. Initiatives and policies that enable a positive work culture cannot be sustained without the support of senior leadership. Therefore, 85 per cent of employees in India finding themselves influenced by their managers to achieve work-life balance is a very positive indicator towards how managers are helping organisations adapt to a more employee-centric idea of ‘work’.”
Mapping productivity metrics in the Indian workforce
In terms of factors that drive employee productivity, the study highlighted that 92 per cent employees in India are motivated by their desire to work on projects they care about and are working with people they easily get along with. When recognised for a job well done, 93 per cent employees reportedly find themselves willing to go above and beyond at work.
Nitin Wadhwa, Director of Human Resources at UKG, India, said, “In recent times, employee resource groups (ERGs) have come into play, helping organizations to mitigate bias and create a supportive and safe environment where employees can bring their ‘whole’ selves to work, without fear of judgement. The results of the study show that 91 per cent employees find that having ERGs at work to lean on for support keeps them encouraged to be their most productive selves.”