Controlling, target-driven managers 'unnecessary'

Date: 22/01/2010

The Work Foundation has carried out a comprehensive survey to reveal what outstanding leadership needs and has "crushed" the assumption that powerful leaders with an emphasis on controlling staff and hitting targets are essential in tough economic times.

In the two-year study entitled Exceeding Expectation: the principles of outstanding leadership, over 250 in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted and provided proof that a people-centred approach to leadership created "outstanding performance".

Six huge companies in the UK took part in the study of such things as employee benefits as well as incentives and recognition including EDF Energy, Tesco, Unilever and Guardian Media Group.

Gemma Pearson, an author of the report, added, "Outstanding leaders are focused on performance but they see people as the means of achieving great performance and themselves as enablers.

"They don't seek out the limelight for themselves but challenge, stretch and champion others, giving them the space and support to excel."

The Work Foundation was constitutionally established by a Royal Charter in 1984 and is a not-for-profit organisation.

Posted by Jo Morgan ADNFCR-2060-ID-19573793-ADNFCR

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Controlling, target-driven managers 'unnecessary'

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