Do managers matter?

Interesting article in Workforce.com asking if managers matter anymore. Points to consider:

• Accenture's global director of leadership development Camille talks about the importance of keeping employees connected to organization and not falling into black hole. She says managers are crucial when it comes to an increasingly important retention factor: “The company that offers you the best experience is going to get you.”

• Employee engagement is a concept that captures retention—how committed employees are to their firms—but also reflects how willing workers are to put in extra effort on the job. Gallup has documented a connection between higher levels of engagement and higher productivity and profitability.

• Managers are vital to reducing the “virtual distance” that can exist in geographically distributed teams, one consultant says. Virtual distance refers to feelings of isolation among colleagues who typically communicate through e-mail, telephone or other technologies, and it can hamper financial performance and innovation.