9 Things Employees Want From Their Managers (and 5 things they don't)

Different employees crave different things from their Managers. For example, some employees want a hands-on boss who stops by with a “How are things going?” every couple of hours. Others don’t care to see their boss but once a year at the performance review.

A survey of 5,000 U.S. employees reveals what matters most to workers:

1) Honesty

90% say they want honesty and integrity from their manager. Lies and secrets are the biggest killers to credibility.

2) Fairness

89% want their manager to be fair and to hold all employees accountable to the same standards.

3) Trust

More than 86% want to trust- and be trusted by- their manager.

4) Respect

84% want to respect- and be respected by- their manager.

5) Dependability

81% say they want to be able to count on their manager when needed.

6) Collaboration

77% want to be a part of their manager’s team and be asked to contribute ideas and solutions. Shutting employees out will shut them up- and send them shipping out.

7) Genuineness

76% want their manager to be a genuine person. Employees sometimes spend more time with their boss than with their families- they don’t want a phony.

8) Appreciation

74% want their manager to appreciate them for who they are and what they do. When was the last time you handed out a “Thank You” or “Great job!” to employees?

9) Responsiveness

74% want their manager to listen, understand and respond. Be a sponge, not a brick wall.

5 Things they DON’T NEED from a Manager:


1) Friendship

Only 3% want their manager to be a friend. As in parenting, it’s more important to be a leader, mentor and example than a buddy.

2) Conversation

Only 14% want to have interesting conversations with their manager.

3) TLC

24% say they want their manager to “care for them.” That doesn’t mean you have to be cold and detached, but most employees aren’t looking for a best friend in their boss.

4) Emotional Support

25% want emotional support from their manager. Employees typically look for that among co-workers rather than a boss.

5) Cheerfulness


Only 28% want a cheerful or happy manager. They’d rather respect you than like you.

Comment back and let me know what YOU deem most important in you manager.

Bobby Bland PWCA, CIC
Vice President
Commercial Risk Service