"What we were able to do was to scan company best practices and use data to establish a benchmark of best practice, so it wasn't a top-down decision,” Allon said, adding that managers are seen as a resource by Google.

The study, headed by Google’s vice president for people operations Laszlo Bock, identified eight points where managers were working well.

"And you'll see that most of the attributes are around softer skills – so being a good coach is a key attribute.” Allon said.

“Empowering the team, finding brilliant people, attracting and retaining the best people and then getting out of the way.”

A focus on results and a shared vision with employees as well as good communication internally and externally were all management areas identified by the study that remain crucial, Allon said.

With technology at its heart, the study found it was important for managers to have appropriate skills and roll up their sleeves when needed.

The final management skills identified by Project Oxygen were helping employees with staff development and getting to know employees as people.