Increasing Profits Requires Skilled Managers

Cathie Leimbach • August 21, 2023

Best way to strengthen your bottom line

Effective managers play a pivotal role in driving increased company profits. Their leadership and management skills directly impact the bottom line either negatively or positively. Millennials and Gen Z employees are not willing to tolerate the emotionally draining workplace conditions that older generations put up with. Also, recent research shows that managers themselves are less engaged than ever. Today, fewer managers are modeling positivity, commitment, and initiative. Many are not inspiring employee productivity. No wonder business owners and senior managers are concerned about declining profits. 


Effective managers are adept communicators, ensuring seamless information flow among individuals and between departments. This alignment helps employees feel respected and informed, increasing their commitment to doing their work well. Also, good communication reduces errors and delays, positively affecting workplace timelines and outcomes. How have your managers been trained in clear, inspiring two-way communication skills?


Also, effective managers nurture talent by offering guidance and growth opportunities. A skilled workforce is more productive and innovative, contributing to enhanced profitability. How often do your managers catch employees doing things right and praise them, kindly coach them to correct underperformance, and encourage them to participate in ongoing learning opportunities?


Prioritizing employee engagement is a hallmark of effective managers. A positive work environment boosts morale, reduces turnover, and increases loyalty. Engaged employees are more likely to invest discretionary effort, directly impacting customer satisfaction, and consequently, company profits. Only 33% of employees are actively engaged, yet, in a few organizations

engagement exceeds 90%? How does your company’s employee engagement rate compare?    


In summary, effective managers significantly contribute to increased company profits through quality communication, talent development, and employee engagement. Although the role of managers is to help employees be highly successful, many have not yet had the opportunity to develop the leadership skills that are essential for cultivating a thriving workplace and driving

financial growth. 


What are you going to do this week to strengthen your managers’ skills so they in turn can lead your workforce effectively, improving your organization’s financial position?


You may wish to learn more about Conversational Management training, or register one of your managers in a unique Lorain County Conversational Leadership workshop.

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In today’s evolving workplace, one constant remains: employees want to feel valued. Interestingly, research comparing data from before and after COVID-19 shows that employees' preferred languages of appreciation have remained remarkably consistent over time. However, age and gender differences reveal important nuances leaders shouldn’t ignore. Gender differences are clear. Men more frequently chose Acts of Service as their preferred form of appreciation (26%), while women gravitated toward Words of Affirmation (46%). When asked about their least preferred language, women were more likely to rank Acts of Service at the bottom, while men showed a strong dislike for Tangible Gifts. Age also matters. Employees over 60 overwhelmingly preferred Words of Affirmation (48%), while the youngest generation (under 20) leaned toward Quality Time (33%). These trends suggest that life stage and workplace experience shape what appreciation feels most meaningful.  The takeaway? While core preferences haven't shifted dramatically post-COVID, effective leaders need to understand and respond to individual differences. Avoid blanket strategies and invest in knowing how each team member feels most valued. Personalized appreciation builds stronger teams—across every generation and gender. For further details, see Dr. Paul White’s article on gender differences in appreciation preference.

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By Cathie Leimbach • June 3, 2025
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