the strongest link brad whitworth, abc executive communications hewlett-packard company 9 june 2002

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the strongest link brad whitworth,
abcexecutive communicationshewlett-packard
company9 june 2002
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our agenda

• the link
• so what do you do?
• building the program
• power in the network
• saying and doing
• the new realities

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conundrum
for decades research has shown that the immediate
manager plays a key role in the communication
process but weve never really proven that a
managers communications effectiveness has a
bottom-line connection until today.
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prefer to get information from
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five key questions

• my immediate manager gives me feedback on my
  performance on a regular basis
• my immediate manager is usually helpful when i
  request assistance with a problem related to my
  job
• i think my performance on the job is fairly
  evaluated
• my immediate manager communicates well on a
  one-to-one basis
• my immediate manager is accessible

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100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
performance and development
0
policies and practices
working relationships
operating efficiency
working conditions
work organization
company image
communications
job satisfaction
management
job security
job training
supervision
benefits
pay
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conclusion
there is a direct correlation between a managers
communication effectiveness and an employees job
satisfaction the better the job a manager does
communicating with her employees, the more
satisfied they are.
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same five questions, plus three

• my immediate manager gives me feedback on my
  performance on a regular basis
• my immediate manager is usually helpful when i
  request assistance with a problem related to my
  job
• i think my performance on the job is fairly
  evaluated
• my immediate manager communicates well on a
  one-to-one basis
• my immediate manager is accessible

• from what I see in my entity, employees are
  willing to go to management with bad news about
  work
• the communication processes in my organization
  are working well
• I am kept well informed about matters that
  affect me and my job

10
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
employees can communicate bad news
communication processes work well
communicates well one-to-one
0
i am kept well-informed
manager is accessible
gives me feedback
evaluated fairly
usually helpful
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conclusion
there is a direct correlation between a managers
communication effectiveness and an employees job
performance the better the job a manager does
communicating with his employees, the better
their performance.
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why communicate?
to change mindsand to change behaviors
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what are we talking about anyway?

• communication is not
• what the communication people do every day

• communication is
• organizational(words and actions)
• mass-media
• non-formal

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hierarchy of communication needs
engagement, loyalty
how can i help?
commitment
vision, strategy
vision and mission statements
where do we fit in?
group performance
how are we doing?
coffee talks, state-of-the-business messages
rewards, recognition
does anybody care?
thank-yous, bonuses, promotions, awards
individual performance
how am i doing?
one-minute manager, performance reviews
job definition
whats my job?
position plans, job descriptions
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overlapping communication worlds
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tapping the power of the network
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tapping the power of the network
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aligning words and actions

• works at several levels individual managers
  and corporations

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reality1
information (and misinformation) moves at the
speed of light
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reality2
increased bandwidthis taking usback in time
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reality3
the boundariesare blurring
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reality4
word of mousebeatsword of mouth
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implications

• the conversation is taking place
• not communicating is not an option stories
  do not go away
• control is not possible

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implications2

• dont do it all by yourself line managers
  are the most credible
• think across all your audiences
• tell the truth

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great reading
unleash your idea virus by seth godin fast
company magazine
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questions?
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