Ask people in any workplace where there’s big room for improvement, and nearly all of them will point to problematic communication.
- We don’t communicate well.
- Leadership nevers tells us anything.
- If people would communicate, we’d be a better team.
The fact is, communication breakdowns (real or perceived) aren’t problems in themselves — they’re symptoms of problems. It’s an important distinction. If you’re going to effect real improvement, you need to get to the root of what’s really going on.
So the next time you hear that “there’s not enough communication around here,” put on your Sherlock Holmes hat and begin to ask questions. “When you say communication, what exactly do you mean?” “In what way is communication breaking down?” “Why is this happening?”
Just be ready for the answers, because you might hear some heavy stuff.
- When I ask the same question to two managers, I get two conflicting answers.
- Our workplace is divided by status, and I feel like a second-class citizen.
- My job is seen by management as being unimportant.
- People don’t value my opinion.
- Management is trying to hide something.
- There’s a serious lack of trust in our workplace.
It’s not easy being a Sherlock Holmes type who tries to decode what’s being said when people talk on the surface about “communication problems.” But meaningful improvement depends on it.
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