Welcome to our eblog!

Communication key to maintaining trust

This week I was delighted to present survey results to the Board of one of our clients- a business in a sector that has been hit very hard by the current economic recession. In common with all in their sector, they have had to make tough decisions including making 25% of their workforce redundant and reducing pay be 10% for all remaining employees.

This was the third annual survey we have done for them, and the Board were anxious to see what impact these decisions had had on morale and engagement.

I was not surprised to report that although their results had dropped since 2009, the drop was quite small and that in most items their scores remained above our norms -a tremendous result considering few of our clients have had to take the measures they have had to. Why was I not surprised? I know that this business has a great leadership team and in their words “they work bloody hard” on communication. For example all members of the board hold regular face to face briefings with the staff, not just in the good times, but even more so when times are hard. They try to be as open and honest as possible, they listen and explain.

Since 2009 pride in the organisation has gone up and so has commitment. Both measures were already in the nineties. Not bad!! The business is starting to recover and I am sure they will benefit from a very engaged, skilled and committed work force. They deserve to do well and I am sure that they will.

03/06/2010 – posted by Chris Marshall