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Could empowering employees boost CFO productivity? 32% say yes

February 20, 2015

About a third of CFOs, 32%, said they would be more productive if they gave their employees greater autonomy at work, according to a new survey by Robert Half Management Resources. Only 13% feared their performance would decline if they gave workers more control.

“Giving employees greater autonomy has the added benefit of making managers more productive,” said Paul McDonald, senior executive director for Robert Half. “When staff have the freedom to decide how their work gets accomplished, they develop management skills much earlier in their careers. Leaders gain the gift of time, which they can devote to strategic planning and other critical initiatives.”

CFOs were asked, “If you gave your staff greater autonomy over how and when they do their jobs (such as flexible work hours, working remotely or less direct supervision), what effect, if any, do you feel it would have on your own productivity?”

Their responses:

  • Increase in productivity: 32%
  • No change: 55%
  • Decrease in productivity: 13%
  • Don’t know: 1%

The survey was developed by Robert Half Management Resources and conducted by an independent research firm. It is based on interviews with more than 2,100 CFOs from a random sample of companies in more than 20 of the largest US markets.