Member Article

Bosses 'paralysed' in their jobs

Most senior managers feel trapped in their job but find it difficult to move on because of a “glass wall” which hinders their search for a new post, according to a report. A survey of more than 500 senior staff by recruitment firm Theladders.co.uk shows that three out of four feel “paralysed” in their hunt for a new job.

They often complain of a lack of opportunity or poor understanding of the senior jobs market, it says. One in 10 are worried that colleagues will find out if they start looking elsewhere for a new position.

Jim Hunter of TheLadders.co.uk says that like the “glass ceiling” affecting women employees, the “glass wall” is fuelled by company attitudes, business culture and market conditions - but most importantly by the executives themselves.

He said: “Only 20% of those executives surveyed felt in complete control of their careers. Yet decades of psychological research show that a high degree of internal control is closely associated with successful career management and job satisfaction. Control is both a cause and consequence of career experiences so glass walls in the form of real and perceived barriers could actually be undermining executives’ sense of control.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .