HES Communication
At HES, we’ve been experiencing communication and connection issues among staff this fall. A few staff members have expressed frustration with the lack of time to speak and interact with colleagues and are, in turn, frustrated with the lack of staff meetings. Staff meetings can provide an opportunity for us to exchange important information staff-wide in a fairly efficient manner. It also allows a chance for new ideas and projects to be shared and discussed as a community rather than dictated by one small cohort or individual. Speaking and listening to others can help a community come together.
To develop a culture of regular staff meetings, we need to create a space where we can hear from others, work through frustrations and complications, and share successes with “us.” It’s about “us” becoming “US.” A candid conversation is needed where we can hear others and share ideas about where we are, who we are, and where we want to go with our community.
To achieve this, we could consider the following:
- Location: We could host the meeting in a neutral location that is accessible to all staff members and we all fit comfortably.
- Structure: We could structure the meeting to include a nuts and bolts portion, followed by a sharing portion. The nuts and bolts portion could be used to exchange important information, while the sharing portion could be used to discuss new ideas and projects.
- Talking Points: We could provide talking point prompts to help guide the conversation and ensure that everyone has a chance to speak. (Still working on this one.)
- Sticky Notes: We could use sticky notes on a table to organize and set the agenda. (Might get some insight on where staff members are at that moment in time and might allow issues to be heard, acknowledged and acted on if possible.)
- Less Performance, More Us: We could create an environment that encourages open and honest communication, where everyone feels comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas. Providing the time for comment does not necessarily translate into a comfort level to comment.