Tough economic times require redoubling your efforts to tell employees the truth. Although we counsel our clients about the risks of silence balanced with the need to be honest, there are new dangers in free disclosure that must be understood. Knowing both the upside and downside of social media is essential to thriving, especially in a downturn environment.
The unemployment rate is dismal, layoffs are in the news, and certain types of jobs are permanently disappearing, so people are understandably untrusting and scared. Public trust in business and business leaders ranks at near-record lows. In a recent Edelman survey, two-thirds of respondents say they trust business less than they did a year ago. Only one in five, or 17%, trusts what they hear from a company's chief executive or owner.
The Best Policy? At the same time, employees routinely expect a level of candor unheard of years ago. The youngest workers who were raised with the omnipresence of the Internet can be suspicious, hard to win over, unfazed about asking virtually any question, and totally disillusioned if they sense any spin or feel taken for granted.
So, for you to achieve success, your team members need honesty and transparency. They should feel part of a caring community with leaders who take into account the well being of the staff when making tough decisions about the business. To accomplish this, you must balance straight talk with compassion and honesty with hope. When your team knows the truth about where they stand, they will be more secure, committed, and productive, a far more attractive picture than a demoralized and disgruntled staff living in ambiguity.
Dangers in Free Disclosure However, we know that being honest these days can have a downside too. Because of social media, business leaders today face a new challenge when it comes to dealing candidly with employees. It is no longer possible to be secure in the knowledge that what is said internally will stay there. We’re living in the era of instant communication. The days are long gone when an organization could control the message or build a wall between themselves and the outside world
Until very recently, there were taboos about sharing sensitive information. You were honor bound to keep a confidence. Now, with 24/7 news, where even unsubstantiated information becomes public knowledge, the person who gets the word out first is the hero. This is the world our young people know.
What Has Changed? In the past, there were barriers to making that information available to others. Access was limited before everyone had a cell phone, a computer, and e-mail. Remember the days when there was a land line in the conference room? It was highly unlikely that someone was going to pick up the company phone during a staff meeting, place a call to the outside world, and share what had just been said with everyone who cared to listen.
Today, with a change in consciousness about what can be shared and the availability of smart phones and other gadgets, what is shared inside is soon outside posted on blogs and message boards—or simply Twittered during meetings—instantly taking that information to the outside world. So, unless you are aware that what you say privately can become public in an instant, you are at risk. Information can become distorted and reflect badly on you and your practice. Rumors can easily take on the status of truth, and negative rather than positive testimonials can cause serious harm.
When digital hearsay is seen as fact, it can be very damaging personally and professionally, so be aware that you face a challenge when it comes to free disclosure. Be mindful of what you say and how you say it. Remember that the more secure and committed your team feels, the less likely you are to experience the dark side of the high- tech, social media phenomena.
Sharon Guy has spent 20 years recruiting and consulting in the optical industry. Autumn Wagner, MBA, is a former vice president of human resources and has experience in senior level consulting in organizational development. Contact feedback@visioncareventure.com with comments and/or suggestions for future topics.
