In the past 2 weeks, I’ve offered a number of postings about communication. I think communication–substance, structure, and sufficiency–is the most critical component for employee engagement.
I encourage you to answer these 10.5 questions. And see what your answers tell you.
1. Does your communication with your people cover various topics: personal, job-specific, company information, community?
2. Do you often feel in a hurry to finish a conversation and get one with something else?
3. When "out on the floor," do you make time and effort for spontaneous conversations with employees?
4. What type question do you ask most often…OR do you ask a variety of questions?
5. Do you provide regular, informal meet-to-talk opportunities either with groups or with entire staff?
6. Do you provide frequent, informal meet-to-talk opportunities either with groups or with entire staff?
7. Are you committed to a specified amount of time to communicate with employees? (Per day? Per week? Per month?)
8. Are you true to that commitment?
9. Do you ask and receive 360-degree feedback regarding your communication with staff?
10. Do you gather detailed information beyond "not enough" from that 360?
10.5. Do you conduct continual, strenuous self-evaluation of your communication with employees?
