Fed: Aussie bosses fearing failure attack and criticise: study
By Miranda Korzy
SYDNEY, Aug 15 AAP - The average Australian boss thinks and behaves defensively, creatinga negative work culture, a major study has found.
Human resources management firm Human Synergistics International (HSI), presentingthe report in Sydney today, said avoidance driven by a fear of failure was the main behaviouralstyle across all sectors for most of the study's 35,000 Australian and New Zealand businessleaders.
Conventional thinking was the second major trait - seeking security within the rules,HSI director Shaun McCarthy said.
Aggressive/defensive behaviours also characterised an overwhelming majority of managers,who found fault and sought to control and compete against others when they could not "avoid"
issues, Mr McCarthy said.
"So the average person in a leadership role, his first thought pattern is how do Ikeep myself safe here, and so their behaviour is self-protective," he told a conferenceon culture and leadership.
"They are critical of others ... `I've now discovered I can't (protect myself) so,hey, I'll find fault with it'."
Leadership style and business culture reinforced each other, so an aggressive chiefexecutive officer was reflected in the organisation they led.
"The culture there is cover your arse, avoid blame, be tough, be aggressive, (havea) work takes precedence over everything (attitude)," Mr McCarthy said.
A constructive CEO, by contrast, was a perfectionist and achievement-oriented individualpreferring to set their own goals.
They had high personal integrity and encouraged and mentored staff.
"The anti-Enron factor it's called - these people that are deemed to be highly effectivein the leadership role have high personal integrity," he said.
"... Let's take risks, let's set goals and strive to achieve them, let's give everythingthe very best we've got, let's learn let's help each other - that's the culture," he said.
The contrasting behavioural traits were consistent across all industries, Mr McCarthy said.
Women, who made up about 35 per cent of the managers, generally showed no noticeabledifference from the men in style.
The study of 23,000 Australians and 12,000 New Zealanders showed similar averages butNew Zealanders tended to be more conventional and conservative, the study found.
The research took five years and was carried out by HSI using its own management tool,working with 35,000 leaders from client firms.
The managers completed self-assessment questionnaires and the study collected feedbackfrom up to five colleagues selected by each of the managers.
The conference at Sydney's City Recital Hall was attended by more than 500 managers,including CEOs of public and private companies from Australia and New Zealand.
AAP mk/arb/was/sb
KEYWORD: MANAGERS
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