According to a new survey, executives give their peers just passing grades on leadership abilities. Sixty-one percent of senior managers polled characterized today’s corporate leaders as good or excellent in their roles. More than a third (36 percent) of survey respondents said executives today are doing only a fair job.

The survey was conducted by an independent research firm and includes responses from 150 executives with the nation’s 1,000 largest companies. Executives were asked, “How would you rate the leadership abilities of most executives today?” Their responses:

• Excellent: 12 percent
• Good: 49 percent
• Fair: 36 percent
• Poor: 3 percent
• Total: 100 percent

   “Effective management requires more than simply assigning tasks among the team,” said Max Messmer, chairmen of Accountemps and author of Motivating Employees For Dummies® (Hungry Minds, Inc.). “Leaders have a responsibility to inspire others to achieve their full potential.

“Those in a position of authority set an example for others,” Messmer continued. “Strong leaders have a strategic mindset, sound judgment, enthusiasm for their work and the ability to prioritize competing projects. They also must be able to cultivate these same qualities in the people they hire.”

Joanie Kamp, Accountemps regional manager added, “New managers should develop a clearly defined vision for their department and communicate it to the team. Giving employees meaningful responsibilities and providing them with the necessary resources to meet them will help to instill confidence in your leadership abilities.”.