CareerBuilder recently shared their findings from a study on new managers which indicated that a whopping 56% received no management training and 26% admitted that they “weren’t ready” when they started managing others.
First, go ahead and read all about the study’s results. Then come on back, because Allison Nawoj was kind enough to answer some follow-up questions for us.
What can you tell me about the participants in this study? Do you have any work-related demographics you can share?
Allison Nawoj: We conducted the survey anonymously online, but we are able to garner some insights into the respondents based on their responses. 58% of managers ages 25-34 said they were ready to be a manager when they started managing others, as compared to 80% of managers 45-54, so that may indicate that younger workers felt less ready than older workers.
As far as industries go, 65% of health care managers said they were ready to lead when they started managing others, the lowest among the surveyed industries. Hospitality—at 81%—was the highest among industries whose managers said they were ready to start managing.
Your survey revealed that 56% of new managers received no training. Can you elaborate on what constitutes “management training”?
Nawoj: That would depend on the company, but mentorship, formal coursework or in-house training that would give them the skills necessary to be an effective manager.
What are the biggest dangers of new managers not receiving training?
Nawoj: The biggest challenge when managers aren’t prepared to lead is their impact on team productivity and morale. Their team’s output is priority to the company’s bottom line, but managers who receive little or no training often encounter more issues with their team members, have a difficult time motivating them and don’t focus enough on developing their workers for the future.
If someone is promoted to a management position without any training, what should the person do?
Nawoj: See how they can seek out training from their organization or from an outside source. Take a course at a local college, read management style books and seek a mentor who can help you lead the best way that you can.
Follow @CareerBuilderPR, for more insights on CB’s surveys.
We want to hear from you! Did you receive adequate management training before your promotion? If so, what did your training consist of? If not, what did you do to “catch up”?
[Photo credit: www.flickr.com/photos/mytudut.]
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