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"WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE."
Downsizing, rightsizing, reorganizing, restructuring, or
reengineering. Call it what you want, almost everyone's
affected (or is it infected?).
A "failure to communicate" may not be the reason changes
are needed, but failing to communicate can make sure any
changes fail.
Try using the Golden Rule. We want to know what's happening;
so do they.
We're dealing with trust here. And the KISS principle. And
openness. And a lot less CYA than usual. Trust me. Tell
me what's happening. Let me participate (this is no place
for control freaks.)
The control-the power-you get to have is choosing to communicate
clearly with everyone involved. It's tough, but surviving
means adapting.
Consider the similarities between communicating within the
company during restructuring and communicating with the
public during a major product failure: Be open. Be honest.
Respect the intelligence of your audience. Think of the
situation from their point of view. Communicate early and
often. Don't wait until the damage is so great that it's
too late to fix it.
No one wants to lose control; everyone's uncertain about
what's coming.
Anyone who stops thinking about self and focuses on the
issue and what's best for everyone, communicates honestly
and sincerely. And the people who hear that kind of communication
will probably believe what they hear-at least once they
get used to being told the truth.
Yes, it's scary. And the stakes are high. It's the perfect
moment to conquer ego-based decisions and really communicate.
For more information, contact:
Barbara Rocha and Associates
PO Box 60521, Pasadena, California 91116
(626) 792-8075
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