More than two thirds of senior decision-makers within UK businesses experience work-related stress on a weekly basis, with concerns about remaining relevant and competent commonplace, according to new research by Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS).
AMBS commissioned Censuswide to survey 500 managers, directors and C-suite executives within UK businesses. It found that 67% of respondents are impacted by stress due to their jobs at least once a week – this figure rises to 73% among decision-makers aged 25-34, and 74% of those working in organisations with over 250 employees.
It comes as almost three quarters (73%) of the business leaders surveyed said that their role has become increasingly complex over the past five years.
Two in five (40%) senior decision-makers say their regularly doubt their own judgement at work, while over half (55%) are concerned about remaining relevant and competent as the business and management world evolves.
When asked what areas of formal training would most benefit them in their jobs, the most common choice was ‘understanding AI and how best to leverage it’ (40% of respondents selected this as one of their top three options). ‘Managing digital transformation projects’ (32%), and ‘combatting stress, improving resilience and mental wellbeing’ (32%) were the next most popular options.
These findings reflect a growing demand among senior leaders for practical, short-format executive education that focuses on applying data, AI and strategic thinking to real-world, complex business challenges.
Elinor O’Connor, Professor of Work Psychology at Alliance Manchester Business School, said: “Stress and responsibility are often seen as going hand-in-hand within businesses – to hold a senior management role and lead on decisions comes, many would say, with a degree of pressure and potential stress. This research, however, highlights far deeper concerns among managers and leaders.
“As the business world evolves at pace, with new technologies, working habits and workplace cultures to contend with, there is evidently widespread fear about remaining relevant and competent. That so many (40%) regularly question their judgement might not be a bad thing – introspection can be healthy in leadership – but this is clearly coupled with worries for most (55%) about whether they will get left behind as the business landscape shifts significantly.
“The research also provides valuable insight to senior leadership teams regarding the types of formal training that might allay senior decision-makers’ concerns and best equip them to fulfil their jobs now and into the future. AI training tops the list by some margin but managing digital transformation and improving resilience and wellbeing are clearly also extremely important areas that many senior figures within UK businesses are keen for practical support on.”
