Come on, Management! Get it together.

You probably recognize the benefits of sharing company information with employees, yet you’re hesitant to do it. Sure, some information can’t be shared, but if you’re holding back on info that can help your employees – and your business – do better, share it!

The key to opening up the channels of communication is to first look closely at the excuses you use to disregard it. Then, work on it and make it happen.

Here are four common points of resistance:

1) Most employees aren’t interested in the big picture beyond their own departments. This may be true of some people, but why deprive those employees who are interested? And even uninterested employees will appreciate the fact that the organization is willing to at least share with them. 



2) If employees have access to information, they’ll undermine the role of management. The concept of the tyrannical manager who knows everything and makes every decision is primitive. Managers who give out information freely will reap trust, cooperation, and productivity. 



3) Employee committees and informative meetings take away from valuable work time. These meetings could be held during off-hours, but conducting them during the workday relays a message that communication is vital to the organization. 


4) If employees receive bad news, they will assume it’s the result of inferior management. Candid reports will earn more respect than dodging responsibility. You can also use this opportunity to relate the risk involved in management decisions. 



Adapted from “Overcoming reluctance to communicate with employees,” by James O’Connor of O’Connor Communications