Ensuring Transparency In The Workplace
- Promote Candidness Among Employees
- Be Open About Bad News
- Practice Discretion
- Provide Information So Employees Can Make Decisions
- Establish Various Open Communication Channels
Companies are currently trying to find more ways to be transparent with their employees, and the more ways that are offered to these companies, the better. This is actually a positive trend that deserves more notice, and it’s commendable that so many companies are looking for ways to be more open with their employees. Here are some top tips for fostering transparency in the workplace.
Promote Candidness Among Employees
One of the best ways to foster transparency is to ensure that all executives encourage candid conversations with their teams. This allows all employees, regardless of their level, to ask hard questions of the leadership team, inquire about the financial status of the company, discuss their frustrations with a particular project, or bring up issues that may not have become apparent to the leadership just yet. Employees who feel free to be candid will benefit from both public and private opportunities to bring up their concerns, and offering both options to the team may yield some surprising results.
Be Open About Bad News
Executive transparency is viewed more seriously by employees if executives are more forthcoming about bad news, especially if the team is informed right away. If the senior leadership is willing to share bad news and even admit their own mistakes, it makes it easier for employees to do the same. One key note here is to share the bad news in an objective manner; just state the facts. Employees like being kept in the loop, but don’t necessarily benefit when an executive shares bad news and then discusses potential ramifications on an apocalyptic scale.
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Practice Discretion
While candidness and transparency are great, there is something to be said for discretion. Executive transparency does not include sharing performance reviews, salaries, bank information or other incredibly sensitive information about employees or the senior leadership. Releasing this information for all of the company to see could lead to resentment by employees, especially if they see the information in an unfavorable light. It could also lead to jealousy among employees and may cause drama the company does not need. Every company has a different comfort level when it comes to discretion, so only the senior leadership, in conjunction with their employees, will know where to draw the line.
Provide Information So Employees Can Make Decisions
Full transparency can lead to information overload and may cause employees to become confused about what information is important for their job, so it’s important to remember that context is key. Some companies will find that providing a secure website with pertinent information to each department may be useful; employees can just log on and get access to the information that will make their job easier. It can also be helpful to hold department-wide meetings on a weekly or monthly basis. This is a great way for companies to have great transparency while not overloading their employees with too much information.
Establish Various Open Communication Channels
A great way for a company to promote transparency is to establish various open communication channels. This includes using technology, such as team working apps, to establish transparency. A company can utilize a website, mobile productivity apps, and even email to keep all of their employees up-to-date on important information, such as financial information, department issues, projections for the future, and more. Mobile apps specifically are great because a department can host discussion forums on different issues and employees can participate from their smartphone devices. This allows employees the chance to talk freely among themselves and with senior leadership.
Transparency can make a company, and its employees, more productive. It can foster trust between senior leadership and their employees, not to mention it helps keep secrecy from becoming an issue. Start integrating some of these tips and learn how companies can be more transparent with their employees.
