5 steps to build trust between senior & middle managers

Only one in three (36%) ‘fully trust’ their senior leaders, yet 72% of leaders believe they’re ‘highly trusted as managers’ according to a survey by CMI and Top Banana.

This trust gap between managers and leaders is worrying, says Patrick Woodman, Head of Research & Communications at the Chartered Management Institute.

He explains: “Middle managers play a pivotal role as operational leaders, acting as the glue between senior leaders and the rest of the team, and implementing strategy at a tactical level. 

“The gulf between reality and perception isn’t just an issue for leaders and those they lead; it poses a number of very real challenges for HR managers. An overwhelming 85% of business leaders and middle managers agree trust is critical to performance. As the conduit between the senior team and employees, keeping middle managers onside is crucial to productivity and business growth.