The analysis from leadership development consultancy, LeaderShape, shows employees want different things from their male and female bosses and still judge them by different standards.
On average the ability of managers to understand workers, develop their skills and manage conflict were all rated poorly. Nearly 60% of men were seen as not having much staff empathy. Employees seem to expect a more listening ear from their female bosses; they rated 7 out of 10 women leaders as failing to empathise, with only 3 out of 10 succeeding in this skill.
Yet women are seen as much better at developing their staff - indicating a stronger female leadership focus on organisational needs. Women are also better at managing conflict. Men rub up their staff and managers the wrong way and half of them need training to sort it out, say the 360º surveys.
Staff have a different 'top five' for men and women managers, regarding the kinds of areas where they want improvement. Most significantly, they say a third of male managers lack the ability to inspire, while women could be more effective if they stopped underestimating their own abilities and possessed more self confidence.
LeaderShape director Danielle Grant, said: "This confirms value-judgements that have long been suspected; it may even account for the 'glass ceiling' and the waste of talent we see at board level - where both men and women fail to step up to the mark and lead their people."
