Communication
I am currently doing management consulting with a company outside of Rochester. It has been awesome to see such a motivated group, especially at the top level of the company. They are at an important stage, one that many successful entrepreneurial companies go through. In the book I am reading right now, Growing Pains, they talk about how growth causes the need to change from an entrepreneurial management style to a professional management style.
In this case, the past decision making of the company was dictated by the owner and an inner circle. Until recently, the people constantly looked to them for approval on many decisions they are more than capable of making on their own. But for years, this is the way it was. "What does the owner think? I need his affirmation."
What is nice about now is that the owner sought me out and said he wanted help in empowering people to make decisions. He knows that there is not enough time in the day for him to have his hands on everything. Thus, the important step in the company’s future moves them toward a professional management style.
The point of this post is to share what happened yesterday. The operational processes of the company have sped up to the point where some of the front line staff thought the company was doing poorly. They felt there wasn’t enough work. What they didn’t realize was that because the production process has become more lean, they are making more, faster. They are doing a wonderful job and are exactly where they need to be as the boom push continues.
The key is this: The old management style probably would have not known the front line was frustrated. They would have been too busy doing other things to realize it. But because the new style is taking place, there was a company wide meeting. The owner spoke to all 80 employees. He told them that they are exactly where they are supposed to be. The vibe in the room exhaled in relief, then applauded at their accomplishments.
That open, constant communication, from CEO all the way to the front line worker was and is essential. People need to know where the company is at and where it is going. The front line perspective was wrong, and it was hurting production and morale. One 45 minute meeting caused a major turnaround. Even better, I had nothing to do with setting up the meeting. The professional management style is pulsating. They are on the track, moving forward to great things.
In this case, the past decision making of the company was dictated by the owner and an inner circle. Until recently, the people constantly looked to them for approval on many decisions they are more than capable of making on their own. But for years, this is the way it was. "What does the owner think? I need his affirmation."
What is nice about now is that the owner sought me out and said he wanted help in empowering people to make decisions. He knows that there is not enough time in the day for him to have his hands on everything. Thus, the important step in the company’s future moves them toward a professional management style.
The point of this post is to share what happened yesterday. The operational processes of the company have sped up to the point where some of the front line staff thought the company was doing poorly. They felt there wasn’t enough work. What they didn’t realize was that because the production process has become more lean, they are making more, faster. They are doing a wonderful job and are exactly where they need to be as the boom push continues.
The key is this: The old management style probably would have not known the front line was frustrated. They would have been too busy doing other things to realize it. But because the new style is taking place, there was a company wide meeting. The owner spoke to all 80 employees. He told them that they are exactly where they are supposed to be. The vibe in the room exhaled in relief, then applauded at their accomplishments.
That open, constant communication, from CEO all the way to the front line worker was and is essential. People need to know where the company is at and where it is going. The front line perspective was wrong, and it was hurting production and morale. One 45 minute meeting caused a major turnaround. Even better, I had nothing to do with setting up the meeting. The professional management style is pulsating. They are on the track, moving forward to great things.
posted by Andrew Harrison at
3:45 PM
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