Keep Them Informed

I believe one of the most discouraging aspects of being a subordinate to a leader is when that leader does not offer much in regards to communication. "Do it because I said so" may work on children but leaders need to understand that adults react with the innate and learned logic they have developed within them.

Your people need to have an open line of communication that tells them the direction they are going. Now, the obvious reasons for keeping some things quiet are understood: heading out on a military mission; keeping a surprise ending to a television episode; and other top secret information being included.

Keeping your people informed means they have a clear understanding how your current progress on a task meets with the overall vision or mission of your organization. How would you like to dig a ditch all morning and then in the afternoon be asked to fill it back up? How would you like to do it day after day? That is what it feels like when communication is cut off.

You want your people to do their best, and a clear understanding of their role and what’s happening will give them incentive to continue even at times when you are out of the picture (sick, on vacation, etc.). Initiative comes from a clear understanding of the task at hand and the overall mission.

You generate resourcefulness and positive morale through clearly laying out plans and through being open to questions that help others feel their voice is being heard. If you hang logic on the door, your people will question your motives.

So keep them informed and watch the difference they make in productivity through exceptional teamwork that only comes from knowing what is going on.