Saturday, September 28, 2013

Say Again

A while ago a magazine requested their readers to send in some statements made by professional
leadership at work that they found confusing, ambiguous or downright dumb. Here are some of the selected responses;

1: As of tomorrow, employees will only be able to access the building using individual security cards. Pictures for the cards will be taken next Wednesday and employees should receive their security cards within two weeks.

2: What we need is a list of specific unknown problems we will encounter.

3: Email is not to be used to pass on information or data.

4: This project is so important that we cannot allow things that are more important to interfere with it.

5: This memo is to inform you that a memo will be issued today regarding the subject memo above.

Not only are these comments from top leadership, they are verging on the precipice of ridiculous and most of them are are from leaders in Fortune 500 companies!

Clear and continuous communications is so very important. In business the self inflicted wounds that are created are more often than not a direct result of poor or non existent clear communications. The very same disconnect occurs in personal relationships. When communication is clear and direct there is far less confusion and the anticipated outcomes are much more likely. Many times individuals are held accountable for not doing what they were not told to do and that never has and never will work. When direct results are expected, a clear understanding of who, what, how, where and when must be understood and the only means to assure this is to clearly communicate. If the "why" can also be shared it should be shared. People feel much more positive about doing something if they know why they are doing what they are expected to do. The "why" gives those involved a sense of ownership and when a position of ownership is taken,  the outcomes are almost always more desirable because there is a feeling of important involvement. Clear and continuous communications is the answer, independent of the question.





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