by Shane Henson — December 3, 2012—Many managers experience a honeymoon phase during their first two years of employment and then find themselves less happy as time goes on, according to a survey of 1,000 U.K. managers that was conducted by the Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM).
These and other findings from the survey were published in The Pursuit of Happiness: Positivity and Performance Among U.K. Managers. Survey findings suggest that this “two-year itch” experienced by managers as their happiness at work falls is undermining productivity.
Not surprisingly, the survey also found that productivity at work is tied to stress levels. According to ILM, 87 percent of respondents who rated their team’s performance highly also described their staff as “somewhat” or “not very” stressed, compared to just five percent whose staff were “very stressed.”
As with marriage, however, the end of the honeymoon phase at work does not mean that managers cannot still experience fair levels of happiness. They do, however, need help to do so. According to the report, managers with clear access to progression and development pathways were shown to be happier and performing at a higher level than those with less access.
“Our survey highlights the pressing need to target training more effectively for front-line managers, who have the least access to development opportunities and stand out as being less happy, more stressed and performing to a lower level than their more senior colleagues,” said Charles Elvin, ILM chief executive.
Also, early intervention is needed to prevent the two-year itch. “Organizations can counteract this two-year itch by harnessing and retaining managers’ early energy and enthusiasm with timely training over this crucial period,” Elvin says.
