Britain's Business leaders reveal their biggest challenges, strengths

Maintaining and improving communications is the most persistent internal problem faced by the most senior figures in British business according to research by Ipsos. In a survey of 100 board level directors from the 500 biggest companies in Britain, it was also revealed that getting people to understand business priorities (19 per cent) and staff morale (18 per cent) are also ongoing concerns.

What are the most persistent internal problems you face in managing your business?

• Maintaining/improving communications16016021%
• Getting people to understand business priorities16019%
• Staff morale16016016016016016018%
• Recruitment/Improving quality of staff16016016%
• High quality staff retention16016016016016%
• Planning under changing tax laws/volatile markets1608%
• Compensation of staff 1601601601607%
• Getting divisions/staff to work together1601607%

In spite of the communications challenge, when asked what the strengths and weaknesses of the top team in their business were, 58 per cent believe that their strength lies in communicating a clear strategy and direction. In addition, 54 per cent believe that providing visible leadership is something at which they and fellow senior directors excel.

However, only 12% claim to be good at understanding employee skills, experience and needs. Eight per cent claim that they are strongest at developing opportunities and clear career path, with 63 per cent believing that this will be a major challenge for them in 2010.

Simon Atkinson, managing director of Loyalty at Ipsos said: "The results clearly demonstrate the high level of concern that Britain's business leaders have concerning staff. Morale, retention and improving quality are all high on the list of perceived problems they face as senior figures within their organisation.

"With 34 per cent believing that they will have to reduce headcount in 2010 in order to make major cost savings, their job will be even harder." Given an extra half day at work, a quarter of respondents claim that they would like to use it to be a more visible presence around the company and to speak to colleagues, while 15 per cent would utilise the time to research new business ideas and examine strategy. Interestingly only four per cent would communicate with customers, clients or stakeholders.

If you had an extra half day at work each week, what would you do?

• Be more visible/walk the floor/speak to colleagues 16016025%
• Research new business areas/think about our strategy16015%
• Think/plan16016016016016016016012%
• Sleep/longer lunch/use the time for leisure 1601601608%
• Get up to date on admin/emails/accounts/filing1601608%
• More reading (press, specialist press, competitor websites)1607%
• Visit our operations/other offices more frequently1601607%
• More competitor analysis1601601601601604%
• Talking with customers/clients/stakeholders 1601601604%

A total of 100 respondents participated in the survey. Respondents are board-level directors of FTSE 500 firms, top 500 industrial firms by turnover and top 100 financial companies by capital employed.