Boss' management style affects bottom line

TOURS, France, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- Over-controlling managers who use threats on employees hurt morale, which in turn, hurts productivity, researchers in France say.

Dr. Nicolas Gillet of the Universite Francois Rabelais in Tours, France, and colleagues said businesses and organizations that tolerate over-controlling managers and do not appear to value individuals' contributions frustrate workers' basic needs for autonomy, competence and relatedness.

How people feel -- well-being -- can account for more than one-quarter of the differences observed in individuals' performance at work so workplace well-being is receiving increasing attention, as it might have economic implications for the organization if workers are under-performing.

The researchers conducted two experiments on workers from small, medium and large French companies.

The study, published in the Journal of Business and Psychology, found the more employees felt their supervisors supported their needs for autonomy, competence and relatedness, the happier and more satisfied they were. However, when supervisors behaved in a coercive, pressuring and authoritarian way, or organizations were perceived as unsupportive, workers said their needs were thwarted and they experienced lower levels of well-being, the study said.

"The fulfillment and frustration of the basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence and how we relate to others plays a central role in the improvement or reduction of well-being at work," Gillet said in a statement. "Therefore, to satisfy employees' needs, supervisors should provide subordinates with options rather than use threats and deadlines."