More than anything, managers want inspiration but only one in 10 see that attribute in their bosses, according to research published by the Department of Trade and Industry and the Chartered Management Institute.
As for the other characteristics managers say they need from leaders - shared vision, confidence and trust in teams and respect for colleagues and customers - only four in 10 claim they regularly see them.
MDs and CEOs also fell short in keeping in touch with how staff feel, and sharing vision for the organisation.
Bosses got high marks in some areas, though. More than half of managers describe them as open and honest while just under half admire their integrity and determination.
The research report, titled Inspired Leadership - an insight into people who inspire exceptional performance, is based on interviews with a total of 668 managers in the UK.
