American Management Association Survey Reveals That More Than Half of Executives Admit their Employees are "Average" at Best

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Feb 13, 2013, 10:00 ET

Simply doing a "Good Job" is Not Enough in Today's Rapidly Changing Workplace

NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- American Management Association (AMA) announced the results of a new survey showing that U.S. executives are looking for workers with more critical skills. The ability to think critically, solve problems, innovate, and collaborate are highly valued at every level within the organization, according to Edward T. Reilly, President and CEO, AMA. Moreover, three out of four managers and executives surveyed say these skills will become ever more important in the fast-paced, competitive global economy.

The Need for the Four Cs

AMA conducted the "2012 Critical Skills Survey" online in December 2012. Of the 768 managers and executives who responded, most say that the four Cs – critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity – have been articulated within their organizations as priorities for employee development, talent management, and succession planning. In fact, the majority agreed that their employees are measured in these skills during annual performance appraisals and that job applicants are assessed in these areas during the hiring process.

Room for Improvement

Unfortunately, though, more than half of the executives surveyed reported that there is significant room for improvement in these competencies among their employees.

Executives admit that the majority of their workforce is average—or below average—in communication skills (62%), creativity (61%), collaboration (52%), and critical thinking (49%).

According to Edward Reilly: "We believe that critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity are the keys to keeping up with the relentless pace of change that confronts all businesses and their employees as we push forward in the global economy."

AMA Business Boot Camp

Reilly is the editor of the newly published book, AMA BUSINESS BOOT CAMP: Management and Leadership Fundamentals That Will See You Successfully Through Your Career (AMACOM January 2013), which serves as a crash course in developing these essential competencies. The book contains proven techniques and tactics, helpful tools, innovative ideas, interactive exercises, and self-assessments, as well as the expert guidance of AMA's outstanding faculty and authors. AMACOM is the book division of the AMA.

About AMA

American Management Association (www.amanet.org) is a world leader in talent development, advancing the skills of individuals to drive business success. AMA's approach to improving performance combines experiential learning—learning through doing—with opportunities for ongoing professional growth at every step of one's career. AMA supports the goals of individuals and organizations through a complete range of products and services, including classroom and live online seminars, e-learning programs, webcasts, webinars, podcasts, corporate and government solutions, business books and research. Organizations worldwide, including the majority of the Fortune 500, turn to AMA as their trusted partner in professional development and draw upon its experience to enhance skills, abilities and knowledge with noticeable results from day one.

SOURCE American Management Association