The number of managers who see career progression as "very important" is almost equal to the number who only consider it "somewhat important."
Insigniam asked middle managers if it is important they progress to a higher level of management and if they would feel satisfied staying in their current level of management for the next several years.
The results are part of Insigniam's 2014 Middle Management Survey, which is based on responses from 200 managers in Global 1000 companies from several industries, including healthcare, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and biotech. These middle managers reported at least two levels of management between them and the highest executive in their company.
Here are the results:
- Responses were not as distinct as one might expect: 35 percent of middle managers said it was very important for them to move up the management ladder, while 40 percent of managers said it was somewhat important and 39 percent of managers said they would be content at their current management level for the next three years.
- When it came time to define their satisfaction five years down the road, the responses were a tad more defined: 61 percent of managers said they would not be happy staying at their current level for that timeframe, but 23 percent of managers said they might be satisfied in that scenario.
- Managers' confidence in the likelihood of a promotion is not very distinct either: 48 percent of managers said their might be a promotion possibility in the next three years while 37 percent said they did not believe they would be promoted in that time. Only 15 percent indicated a belief they would be promoted to the next level of management at their current organization.