ONLY a quarter of employees in the south west see their manager as a role model and many see their boss's failure to involve them in making decisions as a real turn-off.

That's the finding of a new MORI survey released about management in the south west.

The research, commissioned by Investors in People to lift the lid on management styles in the UK, found more than a quarter of employees in the south west (29 per cent) feel their line manager takes little or no account of their views or does not consult them when making decisions.

Equally, more than a quarter of workers in the south west (28 per cent) say their managers may share some information but they don't ask for feedback or they only communicate with their staff when there is a personal gain.

The findings in the south west reflect the national picture, where only one third of UK employees (34 per cent) see their manager as a role model.

In addition, nearly a quarter of employees in the UK feel their line manager ignores them.

Mark Nicholls, director of adviser services in Wiltshire at Business Link Berkshire and Wiltshire said: "This research clearly shows that, in employees' eyes, being seen to be 'inspirational' is key for managers of Swindon businesses.

"Being a successful manager isn't about dictating from the top. It's about motivating your employees and taking full advantage of their contribution to the business."

And the research suggests that more inspirational managers tend to be those who are team players, and involve employees when making decisions or developing new ideas, rather than those managers that simply issue orders from the top.

Nationally of those that saw their manager as a role model, 81 per cent said that they worked with them to develop new plans and 85 per cent agreed that their boss worked with them to reach decisions.

Ruth Spellman, chief executive of Investors in People UK, said: "Our research will make uncomfortable reading for many managers in the south west, who are failing to inspire the very employees on whom they rely.

"Employees in the region are clearly not impressed with managers who fail to communicate effectively or choose to ignore their opinions and ideas."

The report comes as employers prepare for the introduction of Information and Consultation regulations next month, which will give employees the right to involvement on key business decisions and will ultimately apply to organisations with 50 or more employees.

Investors in People recently launched a revised version of the Standard, which includes enhanced guidance on employee involvement and management skills. A specific model on Leadership and Management in the workplace has also been developed.

These latest findings follow research last year by Investors in People which found that 56 per cent of UK bosses think substandard management skills are a major contributory factor in the UK's productivity gap.