#0012 The effects of training managers on management competencies to improve their management practices and work engagement of their subordinates: A single group pre‐ and post‐test study
Managing the Managers: How Training Managers Can Improve Workplace Engagement
Work engagement has a positive impact on the health and well‐being of workers. Previous studies have shown that work engagement can improve other work‐related outcomes such as job performance, organizational commitment, service climate, customer loyalty, and mental health. Because the behavior of managers at the workplace can directly influence the mental health of subordinate workers, focusing on their behaviors through interventions can lead to an increase in work engagement.
To find out more, we explored the effect of a focused intervention for managers. This feedback-based training system was based on the UK Health and Safety Executive management competencies framework and builds upon various sets of competencies that managers use for stress management in the workplace. This program offers an effective way to understand management behaviors that might affect the well-being of the employees.
To begin with, we offered the training program to managers at a finance company in Japan. Our aim was to analyze the effect of the program on (1) work engagement in subordinate employees, which was assessed 1 year after the program, and (2) management competencies, which were assessed after a month of the program. We measured the competencies through an inventory called the stress management competency, which focused core managerial skills like being respectful and responsible, communicating the existing and future work, incorporating individuals within teams, and management of difficult situations through reasoning.
Our findings revealed that contributing factors to these competencies like empathetic engagement, integrity, and proactive work engagement saw a major overhaul in the 1-month follow up of the managers’ training intervention. Moreover, of all the competencies, integrity and problem-solving skills of the managers had a positive influence on the work engagement of the employees. Interestingly, we also observed that this positive influence was more pronounced when the manager and employee were of different genders.
To conclude, our study offers evidence into how managers can elevate their workplace integrity for an overall increased workplace engagement. This can be mediated through focused training programs and workshops, which can help to influence managers’ behaviors in a positive manner.
Link to the original journal article:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/1348-9585.12085
Title of the paper:
The effects of training managers on management competencies to improve their management practices and work engagement of their subordinates: A single group pre‐ and post‐test study
Authors:
Hidehiko Adachi, Yuki Sekiya, Kotaro Imamura, Kazuhiro Watanabe, Norito Kawakami
