| Senior executives struggle to prioritise |
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| Friday, 02 November 2007 | |
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Senior executives across the UK admit they are struggling to manage conflicting priorities, including strategic planning, stakeholder management and personal needs.
Research by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) has found that the UK’s managers and leaders are highly motivated, but worry that the challenges they face will affect their ability to perform. The survey of 1,175 managers and directors shows that an overwhelming majority (84 per cent) grapple with the challenge of ‘prioritising work’. Two-thirds (63 per cent) claim to have ‘little time to think’ and 53 per cent also say they struggle to find ‘time for strategic planning’. Only 5 in 10 find it easy to make time for their staff, while a similar proportion (44 per cent) are diverted by internal politics. Long-term success Worryingly, the research also shows that respondents find it hard to manage personal needs. Fifty-one per cent find their own administration a challenge, while 54 per cent often find it hard to get home on time and only one in ten strongly agree they can relax in their free time. Asked about challenges faced by their employers, the research shows that striving to reach daily goals can be at the expense of long-term success. ‘Finishing tasks’ is a battle for 71 per cent of respondents, with 50 per cent blaming an organisational culture of ‘meeting overload’ for this. Preparation time for meetings diverts too much attention for 46 per cent of executives. New markets Only 16 per cent believe that ‘innovation’ is a challenge. The CMI said that it is, therefore, a concern that 72 per cent claim new product development is not high on the organisational agenda. In terms of long-term growth it is also a worry that 70 per cent view ‘seeking new markets for products and services’ as unimportant. Despite 81 per cent of organisations claiming to struggle to recruit the best candidates, only one in three respondents claim that internal talent management is important to their employer and agree with the statement that they 'understand how their career will progress'. The research also shows managers are worried that such narrow approaches will affect performance. However, the survey shows that the UK’s managers are determined to succeed. Surprisingly, 83 per cent said they can’t wait to ‘get up in the morning’ and 75 per cent claim they find it easy to ‘keep positive’. There is also a clear indication of camaraderie, with 76 per cent turning to colleagues for support. Real challenge Jo Causon, director of marketing and corporate affairs for the Chartered Management Institute, said that, in the current climate, prioritising a multitude of responsibilities and tasks at work is a real challenge for managers. Organisations need to provide a supportive and open environment so that individuals can dedicate time to developing fresh ideas for the future of the business. The lack of professional training and development is also a concern for CMI. If UK employers fail to invest in the skills and competencies of individuals, it is convinced that there will be a serious impact on how well the UK performs on a global market in the future. Related articles Related links |
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