SANTA BARBARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Recent headlines of corporate misdeeds, poor performance and bailouts may be just the tip of the iceberg of a widespread lack of confidence in bosses, suggests a new national study. Eighty-six percent of U.S. adults feel that highly visible corporate calamities are similar to the much less conspicuous - but more far-reaching, ill-advised daily actions of managers that go unnoticed until it is too late.

"Bosses are expected to be accountable in any economy, but against the backdrop of a downturn and lean workforce, there seems to be less tolerance for poor decision making," said Lynn Taylor, an expert on workplace issues and CEO of Lynn Taylor Consulting. Taylor's management consulting firm commissioned the national telephone survey of 1,002 adults, conducted by a global independent research firm. "An ounce of accountability seems to be worth a pound of cure today, not only for high profile corporations, but also for bosses everywhere," noted Taylor, author of the forthcoming book, Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant (TOT); How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job (John Wiley & Sons, July 2009).

(Read the entire survey.)