Keeping People in the Loop

The breakneck pace of today’s business world makes regular communication in all levels of business more challenging than it used to be. Even with the myriad modes of communication that we have available, it’s not always that simple to find ways to keep people up to speed.

Below, some concrete actions you can take to keep proactive communication at a maximum–and misinformation at a minimum.

• Establish a No Surprise Rule for yourself and others. Make withholding bad news the absolute worst violation of all.
• Don’t be an information-hoarding Power Broker. Ask each member of your unit to identify the kind and amount of information that would help them be more successful … and make sure they get it.
• Regularly update your boss and colleagues on your activities and progress. That way, if anyone has a problem with where you’re headed, you’ll find out before going too far down the wrong path.
• Choose an area and designate it as Information Central. Provide bulletin boards for displaying activities in progress, results, project status, production data, new products, and other general information.

SOURCE: Reprinted with permission: 144 Ways to Walk the Talk. Copyright Performance Systems Corp., Dallas, TX.