Communicate often. I’ve come into the organization … and there was a certain way of working at this company and an atmosphere that both of which were fantastic. But, of course, we are undergoing change in our organization — standardization of execution methods and the introduction of more procedures, re-establishing and clarifying roles and responsibilities for employees.
So, there are a number changes that are occurring and we use every opportunity through town halls, monthly meetings, new hire orientation, new hire lunches, breakfast meetings with the president that we have put in place.
There are many, many communication venues of which you can speak directly to employees and let them hear from you and ask you questions. Unprepared — just go ahead, speak from the heart and speak from what you know of the business. As often as you can, do that. Then you are, in fact, touching everyone.
The advice I’d give to (you) is speak to everyone in the organization. I know that’s difficult and speaking to every person in the organization, you’re going to end up with a bunch of questions that you don’t necessarily have an answer for. But, that’s OK, too. That’s causing you to reflect on how prepared you were for that conversation, and perhaps, it enables you to get a little bit closer to changes in the business.
Keep the door open. You may be stepping in as a new leader into an organization where open dialogue was not encouraged. Many times, it’s about patience. It’s about saying that you have an open communication, that you have an open-door policy and that you want to know from your employees what is on their mind.
Then it’s about doing that consistently and honoring the confidence that is shared with you — following up, doing what you say you’re supposed to do — just being patient with it. Because you can say things, but then you can either talk the talk or you can walk the talk. If you’re just consistent with your monthly messages or your participation and communication sessions with employees, your monthly breakfast, before you know it, you’ve accomplished 12 months. You can look back and say, ‘Well, this is what I said I was going to do, and this is what I’m doing.’ So, it’s patience and persistence.
How to reach: AMEC Paragon, (713) 570-1000 or www.amec.com