What's going on?
The public sector is faced with the prospect of budget cuts, leaving employees feeling anxious and apprehensive. Martin Addison writes in The Guardian about managers duties to be open and honest as they can about what future holds.
Once the rumour mill starts it's very difficult to stop it.
As the public sector prepares for the painful process of cutbacks, managers need to understand the importance of communicating openly with their teams.
Some will shirk this responsibility either because they feel there's nothing they can say that would comfort their staff or because they don't want to deal with the resulting emotions and reactions. However, in difficult times, people want and need to know what's going on, especially if something's afoot that could affect them personally. If you're their manager, it's your duty to keep them informed.
Bear these points in mind:
- Stop the rumour mill before it spins out of control
- Hold regular face-to-face briefings
- Be consistent
- Ask for questions
These tips are taken from a training film called The Grapevine, which highlights the importance of open communication and what can happen when people assume the worst.
