Britons not competing for the top job

New research released today highlights the gap between the attributes we admire and respect in our bosses and those we develop ourselves, showing that the majority of Britons are not making the effort to develop the skills they need to make it to the top.

The research, conducted nationally by YouGov and search firm, Imprint Search and Selection among 2,000 people, found that almost half of employees in the UK (43%) respected the leadership skills of their line manager above any other, but only 13% were trying to develop the skill themselves. A third (35%) saw the ability to resolve conflict as an important trait, however, only one in ten (12%) were actively developing this skill as part of their career progression.

When asked which business leader they respected and why, 43% most admired Richard Branson and his innovative thinking, however only 5% thought innovative thinking was an important attribute to develop in order to succeed. Bill Gates was highly admired for his risk taking (31%), but again very few people (2%) regarded this as something they should have in their own armoury.

This demonstrates the lack of career planning undertaken by UK employees at present. Individuals are not focusing on where they want their career to take them in the future and what skills they will need to collate in order to achieve this. In todayís environment this is a very dangerous route to take as companies are now legally obliged to focus on skills over experience. As a result, those who have not planned their career based around developing core skill sets will find it increasingly difficult to achieve their career ambitions as they will lose out to those who have planned their career from the start.

ìAt the middle to senior management level, employers are looking for individuals who can demonstrate diverse skill sets,î commented Norman Burden, Managing Director, of Imprint Search and Selection. ìWith the introduction of age discrimination laws earlier this year, companies are legally obliged to identify a candidateís core competencies and attributes when assessing their suitability for a role, rather than focusing on the number of yearsí experience they may have clocked up. As a result of this, mixed with the effects of a buoyant economy, there has never been a better time for ambitious individuals to develop a whole range of skills by taking on challenging new roles. Itís quite a simple situation. Those who donít plan their career are unlikely to break through the barrier into senior management while those who plan from the start increase their chances exponentially.

ìFor individuals who really want to get ahead, it is now more important than ever to adopt a more positive approach towards career development planning. Individuals need to look beyond the immediate future and start to harness the attributes they most admire in their managers and business leaders. Simply hoping that they will gain the right experience and skills by chance is bound to lead to disappointment and frustration in the future.î