Ireland’s Best Workplaces 2015 surveyed over 55,000 Irish employees and they found that the strongest trend was a feeling that managers were under-performing.

Staff find that managers avoid difficult conversations, while a lack of strong and effective leadership can lead to a sense of disaffection spreading through a company, dragging down the performance of individual employees.

The awards recognise Ireland's best business leaders - and Jim Barry, managing director of Cork's Barry Group has been awarded the title of Ireland's Most Trusted Leader 2015.

He has carried out a full root-and-branch overhaul of the businesses' operations.

eoyireland, Youtube

Since Mr Barry took over the group has grown to become a leading wholesale distribution and retail company, operating in Ireland and internationally.

Barry Group employees 230 peoples and supplies 265 Costcutter, Carry Out off-licence and Quik Pick stores, as well as a number of wholesalers and independent retailers.

The MD says that when he took over the business there were communication issues between the different arms of the company. He broke the whole company down into three elements - its customers, its team and its processes, and started rebuilding the company's operations. 

Jim believes that honesty is a key component of good leadership:

“As a leader, you’re always on trial,” he says.

“My approach is to be honest and upfront because you can’t force people to follow you. Ultimately, you have to create an environment in which people will trust you and be happy to go in your direction.”