Manager Effectiveness Global 2021

Culture Amp's Manager Effectiveness survey is a simple but powerful way for managers to get feedback from direct reports on how they're doing. The survey, created by combining Google's Project Oxygen research with our own findings on what makes a good manager, produces benchmarks allowing companies and managers to see how they're doing compared to others around the world.

  • ~1.3m

    Questions answered

  • /
  • ~250

    Organizations

The data meet our criteria as being robust and reliable; unlikely to substantially change over time; and representative of the wider industry. Read more about the methodology.

Data provided by Culture Amp

Industry breakdown

  • Computer Software

    16%

  • Internet

    8%

  • Information Technology and Services

    8%

  • Financial Services

    4%

  • Health, Wellness and Fitness

    4%

  • Nonprofit Organization Management

    4%

  • Consumer Goods

    3%

  • Marketing and Advertising

    3%

  • Sports

    3%

  • Hospital & Health Care

    2%

  • Real Estate

    2%

  • Insurance

    2%

  • Education Management

    2%

Region breakdown

  • North America

    57%

  • Asia

    16%

  • Europe

    13%

  • Oceania

    11%

  • MEA

    3%

  • South America

    1%

How are managers doing?

4 out of 5 employees feel their manager is effective.

Overall Manager Effectiveness

Manager Effectiveness measures how positive direct reports feel about their manager

My manager makes me feel valued

85%

I would recommend this person as a manager

83%

My manager helps me stay motivated to do my best work

80%

Manager Effectiveness considers how likely the direct report is to recommend their manager, if they feel motivated and ultimately if they feel valued. All of these are scoring in the mid to low 80's.

Manager Effectiveness is a great way to create a feedback culture in your organization by focusing on one of the most important relationship - the manager and direct report. The results can be actioned not only by managers but also in aggregate by L&D teams to see what skills trainings would be most impactful for managers across the company.

Which questions matter the most?

The questions that are most associated with overall manager effectiveness generally have to do with Innovation and Caring. It's likely no surprise that getting to know your direct report and checking in is an important driver of perceptions of management. But creating a place where innovation is encouraged and acted on is equally important. Along with championing the importance of diversity, which can affect the innovativeness of the team.

1

My manager helps me follow through on innovative ideas

81% favorable

Fostering Innovation
2

My manager shows that they value diversity on the team

83% favorable

Inclusion
3

My manager regularly checks in with how I am doing (not just work related)

81% favorable

Caring
4

My manager encourages innovative ideas and approaches

83% favorable

Fostering Innovation
5

My manager takes time to get to know me

85% favorable

Caring

Least favorable areas

People answering Manager Effectiveness Global 2021 were least favorable about the following areas:

But they aren't doing so well when it comes to development - understanding their direct report's career aspirations so they can help them find tasks that will inspire them, and ultimately craft potential paths within the organization.

1

My manager helps me understand potential career paths at [Company]

54% favorable

Development
2

My manager has a good understanding of my longer term career aspirations (not necessarily just within [Company])

60% favorable

Development
3

My manager helps me find things in my work and career that really inspire me

63% favorable

Development

Insights data provided by Culture Amp.

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