MINNEAPOLIS — Only seven percent of employees wish to be told what to do by their boss, according to a survey by CO2 Partners, a Minnesota executive coaching and leadership firm. The overwhelming majority, 93%, prefer to be asked questions by their supervisor.

“The directive workplace has been in decline since the 1970s,” said CO2 Partners President Gary Cohen. “Today it’s not about following orders, but about dialogue and effective leadership. People have grown to expect a supportive work environment where everyone is encouraged to contribute. Moreover, at a time when senior management is so focused on talent management there is no alternative.”

According to Cohen, at least one-third of supervisors and executives who are surveyed favor inquiry as a leadership style. “Leaders don’t tell people what to do, they ask questions. This isn’t merely an indirect way of giving orders, but real give-and-take. Leaders realize they don’t know all the answers and must draw on the know how of their employees. In fact, we find that about 80% of exceptional leaders use this approach.”

“Fifteen years ago,” Cohen added, “most supervisors knew how to do their employee’s job, perhaps even better. But today few bosses know how to do an employee’s job. So moving from telling to asking isn’t a matter of choice. It’s a necessity!”

With respect to employees who just wish to be told what do to, Cohen noted that there are always people who don’t want to be challenged. “They want their work day to be consistent and as easy as possible.”

Independent research firm Content Connections was retained by CO2 Partners and surveyed 216 employed Americans via the Internet in March 2007.

Based in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, CO2 Partners (www.co2partners.com) provides leadership development and executive coaching to organizations and individuals throughout the U.S. Gary Cohen is author of “Just Ask” to be published in 2008.

Contact: Gary Cohen, President, CO2 Partners, 612-928-4747 or 845-339-7858.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,