CRA Inc

11 Aug 03 @ 9:48 pm

The Message Matters

This article in the UK’s Guardian is preaching to our choir–we offer similar advice daily–but it’s worth reading nonetheless (or in the least, forwarding to some of those in your company who need to hear the advice therein more than once). A highlight:

Integrate: “Many companies don’t have a strategy,” says Jeremy Sice, managing director of SAS Design. “They tend to do a series of ad hoc projects in a reactive way, and don’t follow through on the expectations they set.” Make sure therefore that anything new you introduce or talk about should be part of a bigger picture. So you need to know what the big picture is yourself. Then be clear, concise and open with everyone else. It’s easier said than done …

… Avoid patronising people at all costs and admit that you’ve been bad at certain things in the past and want to be better. “Jollying people along is on the wane,” says Chris Cleaver. “And don’t be too positive, particularly if people are feeling aggrieved,” he adds. Redundancies, general job insecurity and high stress levels will mean that people aren’t necessarily going to think: ‘Yippee, an email postcard from the chief exec written on the beach outside his third home in the Maldives telling us that it’s been a difficult year but that we should keep up the good work.’

posted in category(s): Points of Interest