Scary Bosses?
A survey of the UK workforce shows that people are either too scared of looking incompetent (30 per cent), reluctant to bother their boss (48 per cent), or worried that they will be judged for being unsure of what to do (20 per cent). Instead, they are turning to books, the internet, colleagues or friends to avoid seeking help from their managers. Worryingly, just under a quarter of those questioned (23 per cent) also said they wouldn’t turn to their manager for advice because they don’t trust their judgment, or simply think they would be unable to help.
Ruth Spellman, chief executive at the Chartered Institute of Marketing, said: “These new figures paint a worrying picture. The job of a manager is to guide and instruct, ensuring their teams are performing at the top of their game. If you’re ever unsure of how to tackle something at work your manager should be the first person you turn to – the one with the support and answers. Any workplace culture where people are scared to speak up or fear appearing foolish is not going to be conducive to getting great results or nurturing a talented and productive workforce. If the UK’s businesses are to rise up out of the recession and flourish, we need to get these things right by vastly improving the quality of our managers and leaders.”
Eligible members of BEVA will be able to vote for their Council team until Monday, 17 August 2026. Members will have received an election email on 17 July.
