Survey: 4 in 5 managers believe they are ”good” or ”very good” in their Role – yet only 43% of employees agree

Although 81% of organizational leaders are confident that they perform well or very well in their leadership roles, only 43% of employees agree that their direct manager meets the criteria of an effective leader, according to a national RoCoach survey conducted with over 600 respondents. The perception gap extends to other key leadership aspects. While 74% of managers believe they clearly communicate their business vision and objectives, 38% of employees say they lack sufficient information to fulfill their responsibilities effectively. Additionally, only 36% of employees feel they receive the support they need from their direct manager, despite 68% of leaders believing they provide full support to their teams.

When it comes to leadership style, most managers describe themselves as engaged (86.57%) and motivational (73.1%), traits considered essential for effective leadership. However, one-third of employees perceive their manager as having an authoritarian leadership style – something only 1 in 10 leaders acknowledges. Communication remains a critical issue. While 56.7% of managers believe they are open and transparent, only 30.1% of employees confirm having access to all necessary information from their manager. Furthermore, 14.6% of employees experience unclear and confusing communication, compared to just 1.5% of managers who recognize this issue.

”Great leadership is about balancing vision with active listening, decisiveness with adaptability. The gap between how leaders evaluate themselves and how employees perceive them is a major challenge in today’s competitive job market. If unaddressed, this discrepancy can impact employee engagement and retention, pushing talent to seek opportunities elsewhere”, explains Mihai Stănescu, founder of RoCoach, Romania’s first coaching company, with over 20,000 hours of experience in leadership and strategy development

Only 27.4% of employees believe their leaders demonstrate high ethics and integrity, compared to 53.7% of managers who rate themselves highly in these areas. Empathy, adaptability, and accountability also show significant perception gaps between employees and leadership.

”To bridge this gap, companies must invest in leadership development programs, encourage continuous feedback, and foster a culture of transparency and active listening. This transformation is not just an adjustment—it’s a fundamental shift that redefines the relationship between leaders and their teams. When self-evaluation aligns more closely with employee perception, organizations become more resilient, effective, and attractive to top talent”, adds Mihai Stănescu, who has guided hundreds of executives and decision-makers across retail, manufacturing, energy, and finance sectors in Romania and Central & Eastern Europe, helping them navigate complex organizational transitions and optimize leadership effectiveness.