The Institute Of Work - Culture

Nice bosses finish first...

Managers who foster stronger communication, camaraderie and culture boost the bottom line, researchers into management techniques are finding.

Replacing a poor manager with a supportive one is the equivalent of adding a fifth employee to a team of four, according to a study of two retail chains by the University of Southern California and the IMF, while a Said Business School study of happiness and productivity found teams are 13% more productive when happy.

Engaged employees try harder, and it shows up in profitability, productivity, innovation, customer satisfaction, safety and retention according to researchers at MIT Sloan.

The problem, according to Andrew Saffron at Innermost Consulting, is that every boss thinks they’re a good boss. Saffron opens training workshops by asking bad bosses to put their hands up.
Usually no-one does. Then he asks those who’ve had a bad boss to raise their hands. Everyone does.

Remembering bosses who inspired you is a good start. If you are independently working or running your own business, surround yourself with supportive and like minded people to share your space with, foster positive culture, energy and environments.

Be open to chance encounters and collaboration, not just focusing on what you think you know.


Written by James Jackson - DJATOM Web Serv (Updated 20/05/25)