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Most Managers Would Prefer If You Could Just Read Their Minds

Think you can do that? If so, that'd be great.

A new Interact survey conducted online by Harris Poll with 2,058 U.S. adults — 1,120 of them were employed, and 616 of the employed people were managers — showed that a stunning majority (69%) of the managers said that they’re often uncomfortable communicating with employees. Over a third (37%) of the managers said that they’re uncomfortable having to give direct feedback about their employees’ performance if they think the employee might respond negatively to the feedback.

The survey results also showed that many managers are uncomfortable with becoming vulnerable, recognizing achievements, delivering the “company line,” giving clear directions, crediting others with having good ideas, speaking face to face, and having difficult feedback conversations in general.

My personal favorite being is the "uncomfortable with becoming vulnerable." In other words, discomfort with discomfort! Awkward about awkwardness! Anxious about anxiety!

And I'm personally puzzled about being uncomfortable "recognizing achievements." Any armchair psychologists out there are welcome to share theories on that one.

[HBR]

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