At many companies top management spends too much time speaking to employees and not enough listening to them, according to a survey of more than 2,500 senior human resource executives in North America by Novations Group, a consulting firm based in Boston.
Of survey respondents who have an opinion on the issue, 44% said management speaks too much, while a majority said it gets the right balance between speaking and listening. Only 3% feel senior management spends too much time listening to employees.
ìHR executives have a unique perspective on whatís going on within an organization, what employees really think and how the leadership team is perceived,î said Novations Director of Consulting Jan Thibodeau. ìSo hereís an insight into whether top management communicates effectively or not. The findings tell us management gets it wrong at two out of five companies.î
It is important for organizations to get the right balance between speaking and listening to employees. In your opinion, how well does your senior management achieve such a balance?
Our senior management spends too much time speaking to employees. 44%
Our senior management spends too much time listening to employees. 3%
Our senior management gets the balance about right. 53%
Corporate leaders are smart and articulate, so it is understandable for management to want to get the core message across and to reinforce the mission, observed Thibodeau. ìRepetition via multiple channels is necessary,î she said, ìbut the downside may be a widely-held impression that communication is one-sided, or even out of touch with employees.î
According to Thibodeau, management often assumes that listening is a natural skill. ìIn large, complex organizations listening is neither a simple task, nor does it come naturally. Leaders have to learn to listen with purpose, with sensitivity to certain words and language, and with attention to underlying meaning. But in too many cases what should be a genuine dialogue becomes just a monologue.î
At a time when employee engagement is so crucial management needs to foster a culture that values open dialogue, said Thibodeau. ìThis is particularly key with Gen Y employees who placed a high value on an interactive work environment.î
Equation Research conducted the Internet survey of 2,556 senior HR and T&D executives.
Novations Group, Inc. is a leading provider of consulting and training services on four continents. Novations is recognized for its expertise in diversity & inclusion, employee engagement, talent management, employee selection, leadership development, organization communications, sales training and customer service. For more information, visit www.novations.com.
Top Management talks too much, says HR Execs
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