by Richard Branson
International business icon Richard Branson emphasises the importance of person to person contact and communication at the workplace, while condemning the growing reliance among today’s managers on email and texting via the cellphone at the expense of direct discussions to initiate or follow up day-to- day as well as major action. Branson’s telling commentary on this counter productive tendency is in consonance with the time- tested Sanmar belief that there is no substitute for face-to-face communication on a regular basis, no matter how we back it up with emails and text messages.
Don’t restrict the conversation to work matters. If you notice a family photograph on a desk, a comment like, “I see you have a tennis player in the family? My kids love to run me ragged all over the court,” will help to break the ice.
Why is it so hard to pick up the phone? They are a lot smaller than they used to be, and these days, even non-tech-savvy types like me can call, text and email messages, sending fi les and photos around the globe with ease. Despite these advances, the quality of business communications has become poorer in recent years as people avoid phone calls and face-to-face meetings in the interest of effi ciency.
I recently heard a senior manager defend his handling of a situation by saying, “I don’t know why they didn’t understand the issue. I must have sent a dozen lengthy emails on the subject in the last week.”
A brief conversation followed by a concise email to confi rm the next steps would likely have settled matters within a few minutes, and saved him the trouble of writing those lengthy emails, and the complications that followed. Another executive complained to me, “I’ve sent the guy a bunch of text messages. I know he’s there, so why isn’t he responding?” Clearly it would have been better to pick up the phone or walk over to that person’s desk and discuss the matter face-to-face, a move that would have resolved the issue and immediately eliminated the growing tension. In short, if these managers had tried walking and talking instead of typing and griping, they could have solved these problems quickly and easily, saving themselves time and effort.
Why not pick up the phone? As technology has evolved, so has business etiquette. People tend to rely primarily on email and text messaging because these communications are precise and less intrusive, while a phone call now signals that a matter can’t be solved by ordinary means. But there is nothing effi cient about allowing a small problem to escalate. To break down this new barrier to communication, make face-to-face communications part of everyday life at your offi ce.
The Australian name for it is “going walkabout”; many business management consultants call it “management by walking around”. Whatever you call it, it works, and if you and your senior staff aren’t doing it, you are missing out on one of the most inexpensive and effective management tools around. I have always enjoyed getting to know people at Virgin companies. I fi nd it a much better way to get a feel for what’s really going on than sitting in my offi ce (OK, lying on my hammock at home) reading reports.
Not everyone is outgoing, so here are a few tips: Be egalitarian. Don’t restrict your walkabout only to your area of the company; try to meet colleagues at every level. Go on your walkabouts at random times. You don’t want front- line employees thinking, “It’s 3 o’clock on Tuesday. He should be here any minute.” If managers or department heads ask to tag along, politely explain that you will get to know people better if you are on your own.
If you encounter any employees you haven’t met before, be sure to shake hands and always introduce yourself by name, no matter what your position at the company. (If you fi nd these unexpected meetings a little awkward, imagine being expected to recognize a senior executive you have never met.) Keep it informal: “Hi, I’m John Brown,” is much less intimidating than “Good afternoon.
I’m the chief fi nancial offi cer, Mr Brown.” Don’t restrict the conversation to work matters. If you notice a family photograph on a desk, a comment like, “I see you have a tennis player in the family? My kids love to run me ragged all over the court,” will help to break the ice. Relax and have fun, ask questions and listen. Ask your colleague what she sees as her area’s strengths and stumbling points, and for her thoughts on the challenges the business faces. Jot down anything that strikes you as worthy of follow-up.
(When I don’t have my notebook handy, I am notorious for writing reminders on my hands and arms.) If you have any news to share, provide a balanced view—positive developments as well as concerns. It’s unlikely that front-line employees will know much about the bigger picture, so they will need your help to put matters in perspective.
Above all, try to catch employees doing something good—recognize and celebrate people’s strengths and achievements on the spot. If you do happen to stumble upon a problem, it’s far better to quietly bring the matter to a supervisor’s attention later, rather than embarrass the staff member. We have found at the Virgin companies that when senior managers make the effort to foster relationships with employees and colleagues, a real community spirit arises.
If you need to shake things up, throw a party! Not only is it a great excuse to have some fun, but you and your colleagues can spend time together. So please get out of that ergonomically correct chair right now—there’s no time like the present for a trial walkabout. It will get easier with practice. If you need to explain your sudden presence in unfamiliar territory, you can simply say “Richard sent me”—or then again, maybe not!
Reprinted from The New York Times