Why is communication and culture important between management and the employees?
The culture is important because otherwise it would ruin your business. The people in the plants are our lifeline. They are producing product or dealing with customers and are the lifeline to what we do. If they feel mistreated or neglected or not heard, it could be a very bad thing for us. So, we go back to the basics. Take care of yourself first. Take care of your health, your family. Take care of your medical situation and your bills. We want people to be part of what we do. We talk with them about what is bothering them. Communication is key in our business, and we focus our business around communication and open communication between employees. We want to make sure that all of our employees take care of each other and we work hard to make sure that they do. We teach our employees courageous conversation.
How can managers lead through example?
I think you have to look at what you are trying to do, what is your ultimate goal in life. If managers are always off doing something else, not paying attention to what is really going on, it is really difficult for people to see what they are supposed to do. A lot of times in our country, people think that they are supposed to aspire to the highest paid person. Everyone wants to be that professional athlete that gets the most money. I just think that as long as we keep doing that, it’s just going to have problem after problem. My hope is that we can end some of those practices and get back to just being good solid businesspeople and let the greed go somewhere else.
How to reach: The Bama Cos. Inc., (800) 756-2262 or at www.bama.com
