Managers who are considered the “world’s best boss” know it’s more than just a ceramic mug (although they do look great on your desk). As an exemplary boss, you know how important it is for your employees to value you. In fact, 93% of employees say that being able to trust their direct supervisor is important to their job satisfaction. Employees are even willing to decline a pay raise if it means they can stay with a manager they like.

Good leaders also understand the impact they have on their team. Through high emotional intelligence levels and communication skills, management can improve employee morale. In fact, 70% of the variance in employee engagement scores across business units can be traced back to managers. But managers who actively work to help employees rather than tear them down, will see a huge spike in productivity and morale. All good bosses know that they succeed when their employees succeed. By empowering your employees, you will be paid back in dedicated employees and high retention rates.

In today’s work environment, it’s no longer just rank-and-file employees who receive honest feedback. Managers do too. Most employees who strongly agree that their managers highlight their strengths are also twice as engaged as those whose managers highlight their weaknesses.

Learn more of what drives the employee experience, with Center for Generational Kinetics and Ultimate Software’s research results, Uncovering the Positive Drivers of Employee Experience.