#Japan #Tokyo #Employee Engagement #management support #Organizational Growth

Examining the Leadership Support Disparity in Organizations

A recent survey conducted by Netchu Soshiki Co., Ltd., a consulting firm focused on organizational development, involved 165 executives from companies with over 100 employees. The aim was to assess the current state of challenges and learning within organizations while analyzing the correlation with business performance.

Key Findings

The findings revealed that 88% of executives from high-growth companies reported having concrete support from their supervisors during challenging situations. In stark contrast, only 44% of executives from declining companies felt similarly supported, indicating a 44-point difference between these two categories. Interestingly, medium-stagnant companies showed that 71% of executives perceived supervisory support, also demonstrating a clear gap between high-growth and stagnant entities.

Analyzing the responses from executives and general employees unveiled significant recognition gaps, particularly evident in companies with stagnant performance levels.

Recognition Gap in Leadership Support

The survey identified a striking contrast in how support is perceived by management versus employees. For instance, among stagnant companies:

• - Executives: 71.2% acknowledged the support from their supervisors.
• - Employees: Only 44.9% felt the same, which resulted in a 26.3-point gap.

This disparity continued to show in declining companies with:

• - Executives: 43.8% recognized leadership support.
• - Employees: Only 19.4% acknowledged receiving sufficient support, reflecting a 24.4-point gap.

Such differences might suggest that while management perceives themselves as supportive, employees may feel this support is inadequate or lacking. Especially in stagnant companies, addressing this recognition gap is vital for creating an environment conducive to taking on challenges.

Implications of the Study

The study raises important considerations about the performance differences between organizations. It suggests that the observed performance gap is not solely attributed to business strategies but may also be intrinsically linked to how challenging environments are recognized and managed within teams.

The substantial discrepancies between executives’ and employees’ perceptions of support create a potential stagnation barrier that companies should aim to address.

The report also covers the following subjects:

• - Common characteristics found in high-growth businesses.
• - Background factors that lead to stagnation in businesses.
• - Trends among organizations perceived as conducive to taking on challenges.

Through illuminating details related to how organizational environments either promote or hinder challenges, this report emphasizes the need for improved communication and understanding between leadership and their teams.

Survey Overview

• - Survey Name: The Status of Challenges and Learning in Organizations (Executive Version).
• - Conducting Organization: Netchu Soshiki Co., Ltd.
• - Target Respondents: Executives from organizations with over 100 employees.
• - Sample Size: 165 individuals.
• - Data Collection Method: Online survey.
• - Survey Period: March 17, 2026 - March 26, 2026.

This survey marks the second round of research following an earlier executive version, which addressed the perceptions of challenge environments from the employees’ perspectives. Moving forward, it’s critical for organizations to align these perspectives to foster more robust growth and a more supportive workplace culture.

For those interested, you can find the complete report available for download, and it's been especially popular among HR leaders and executives looking to enhance their organizational metrics.

About Netchu Soshiki Co., Ltd.

Founded in July 2020 and based in Minato-ku, Tokyo, Netchu Soshiki Co., Ltd. is dedicated to creating organizational structures that promote joy at work, improved performance, and solutions to societal issues. We focus on addressing obstacles to organizational growth by updating the foundational structures of organizations, thereby facilitating transformation and development.

• - Company Name: Netchu Soshiki Co., Ltd.
• - Co-founders: Kiyotaka Suzuta and Takeo Anzawa.
• - Business Activities: Supporting the updating of organizational structure (OS) and developing upper management and middle management leaders.