Get Out and Reach Out
Hiding Won’t Help
It’s not just managers and supervisors who hide out and don’t communicate with others. Many employees do exactly the same things–then wonder why they feel out of the loop. If you want to be part of things you can’t be apart from things. (Which is easier said than done in some cases, but worth making the effort. )
Purposely make time every day to move about and say hello to your own section and to people in other sections of your work as well. Not long ago I was talking to someone who kept referring to the lack of communication with the people on the “other side.” I almost thought she was referring to those who have passed on from this life because she seemed to be mournfully certain she was unable to communicate with them. It turned out it was the other side of a partition in the room, which required walking out the door and immediately back into an adjacent door. But, she said, those from “the other side” rarely communicated with her group and vice versa. What a shame!
Consider those in other sections or units to be your internal customers. Commit to establishing positive relationships and showing your value and the value of your team.
Be reasonable and thoughtful about the time you use and take. A very brief and smiling greeting for only a few minutes once a week or so is about all that is needed. Avoid long conversations and conversations that take the focus away from good work. A man to whom I was mentioning this idea said complained that he didn’t mind a few minutes of greeting but that many people just come in and hang out to either joke around or complain about business. He’s removed the chairs to reduce that tendency.
You’re busy, of course. However, effective work is about relationships. Take the time to build those and many other things will work out better. Give it a try starting today. Get up, get out and reach out.
This is good advice that we often give to our clients who tell us they feel alienated at work. Sometimes we find they haven’t made the best possible efforts and sometimes their efforts have created problems. Last week I counseled with a woman said she couldn’t understand why her efforts to be friendly were a problem. Turned out she was visiting everyone’s office every day for lengthy conversations!
Comment by Careerist | April 27, 2011
Love the idea about taking chairs out of the room!
Comment by G.Walters | April 27, 2011