Sometimes something just feels wrong in a workplace. But how do you diagnose the situation?Â
Say, for example, the direction or goals seen unclear in your office. There could be a lot of reasons for that. Here are some root causes of that problem–and the questions that will help you pinpoint the cause.
- Maybe the cause is leadership. Ask: Do all levels of leadership share a vision? Is communication frequent and effective? Does information flow freely in all directions?
- Maybe the cause is planning. Ask: Has the organization kept up with the demands of the marketplace, or fallen behind the needs of customers? Has the organization’s leadership laid out an achievable course? Have leaders set and communicated specific and realistic expectations internally?
- Maybe the cause is culture. Ask: Is the organization clinging to “the way we’ve always done things”? Are leaders actively fostering innovation, creativity and a culture of entrepreneurship? Does the culture value the free flow of information in all directions?
Once you have pinpointed the cause, you can work toward a solution.
Taken from Managing Change: Creating Strategies, Setting Priorities, a self-directed course by Elaine Kramer at Poynter NewsU.
