A few thoughts from our first lady Jelena Vuletić, ACC..
Openness and being open in a business environment is definitely a two-way street. It is more than clear that all parties must contribute. It is the ability to talk freely about issues happening at the workplace, both with co-workers and superiors. However, it is not so present and welcomed as one may think.
Some leaders do encourage employees to speak openly and with honesty, unfortunately, the employees are sometimes just not ready for it. The reasons are different – they might be scared of what could happen if they really open up, or scared of saying something wrong, or even scared of being judged by others. Perhaps it could also be due to the lack of self-confidence?
Tip for leaders: Create a trustworthy environment and through active listening and open questions you will find the real reasons behind the fear of employees.
On the other hand, there are leaders who don’t encourage openness nor respond well to it. The usual excuse they give for not listening is – I don’t have enough time. But is it really the case? I think that it has more to do with the lack of patience, rather than with the lack of time. Perhaps they also have issues with trust? Sadly, some of the leaders don’t believe their own team members. One more fact that could be the reason is the need to control everything and thus earning the title “control freak”.
Tip for employees: Find the right moment to communicate. Give feedback. Do it frequently and there won’t be the need for over-controlling and double checking.
So, what is the strategy for both sides? How to promote openness and thus significantly improve the working environment? Well, the first step is to be aware that there is an issue that has to be dealt with. After that – hire a coach 🙂
The results of coaching are extraordinary: stronger rapport, improved listening, mutual trust and openness without any consequences to employees. A paved road to excellence in business!
It is definitely of crucial importance to develop this kind of business environment and I strongly believe that there’s always room for more openness.
Tip:
We often forget to treat people the way we would like to be treated. Therefore, be open and ask open-ended questions, listen to what the employees have to say and try to find out how they like to be treated.
