How do managers impact engagement and People Success?

As people scientists, we are often asked about the role managers have in engagement. Managers play very important roles in people's happiness and success, but the relationship between "manager" and "employee engagement" is nuanced. 

 

Pragmatically, we know that the success of most investments organizations make in people's happiness and success can be optimized, under-leveraged, or even undermined by a manager -- pointing to the importance of senior leaders bringing managers along with key business decisions. 

 

Statistically, we see that who one's manager is explains a significant and substantial amount of variance in employee engagement levels, but that effect is confounded with factors outside the manager's control. Still, there's a clear relationship between how effective managers are perceived to be and how engaged their teams are. 

 

Based on Viva Glint's research:

• Employees who recommend (versus those who do not recommend) their managers (Q_MANAGER_QP) are: 
• 2.36x more likely to be engaged (Q_ESAT_HAPPY; 78% vs. 33%).
• Top quartile companies are 12pp more favorable than bottom quartile companies (82% vs 70% favorable).
• 2.29x likely to say they will probably be with their company in two year’s time (Q_RETENTION; 71% vs. 31%).
• Top quartile companies are 7pp more favorable than bottom quartile companies (72% vs 65% favorable). 
• 2.24x more likely to feel their company has a great culture (Q_CULTURE; 74% vs. 33%)
• Top quartile companies are 21pp more favorable than bottom quartile companies (81% vs 60% favorable).

Do share your reactions below, would love to hear from others!