The corner office is a hot spot of late. Closed door meetings abound, as some companies tangle with whether they'll be solvent the next morning. Thousands of layoffs in New York alone in the face of recession, have lead to increasing anxiety and stress for workers. But U.S. companies are apparently getting the huge clue to be a bit more transparent about job security, company performance and solvency according to a new Watson Wyatt survey.
The global consulting firm found that 77 % of respondents to the survey have already sent out - or are planning communication on the impact of the current financial crisis within the walls of the organization. More than two-thirds of the employers cited easing employee stress as one of the top two goals of this type of crisis-intervention communication. Earning employee trust also rated as a concern.
One of the greatest fuels of fear and anxiety is lack of information. In laying the cards on the table, companies can better build trust with workers and alleviate the distraction of fear. It's a difficult balancing act as employers don't want to discourage workers thus impacting productivity. Ultimately, knowledge is power. "What you don't know - won't hurt you," does not apply in this case.
Transparency allows for planning and relationship building among the rank and file. In a time of great uncertainty, just knowing you have a job to go to in the morning goes a long way toward securing engaged and loyal employees.
For those of you who are stressing check out my free download breathing exercise to bring you down to earth from my Cd – Practical Chaos: Reflections on Resilience.
