I recently read an article published on fierceinc.com that reinforces a belief held by myself for a long time on what helps win the hearts and minds of employees.
Sometime ago I attended a T.E.C. ( Vistage in the USA ) annual conference of chairs in Orange County, California and one of workshop leaders was Susan Scott. Susan wrote the book Fierce Conversations which I reckon is recommended reading for business leaders.
Susan’s company Fierceinc has conducted a survey of some 800 business people and it highlighted that employees crave transparency within their workplace. My experience is that most private and large companies I have worked with very rarely display open sharing of information and have a policy of transparency. They might say they do in their vision and mission statements, but the reality is the opposite. However, generally key information that should be shared is closely held within the top inner circle. Trust in the workplace is built through sharing information and giving employees the knowledge they require to help you and your organisation achieve your vision of the future. Our employees are doing things in their private lives such as sitting on committees at schools and sporting or charitable organisations and handling complex family issues etc .Why do we treat them as is they have left their brains at home when they come to work ?
I challenge you to take stock in your business and question how you share information. Is all behind closed doors ? You cannot win the hearts and minds of your team if you treat them as mushrooms.
How can you hold people accountable if you give out message that you do not trust them.?