Internal Communications—It's Not Rocket Science - Government of ...

Small-Group Cross-Divisional MeetingA program designed to exchange information both vertically and horizontallyacross the department and delivered in a format that strengthens team spirit andfosters morale.Good For• all departmentsPros• There is a common format: e.g., breakfast with the deputy/executive director.• The program builds visibility of senior management; attendees meet with seniormanagement and put names to the faces• It can build understanding of why some decisions are made: attendees see theirpersonal role and their unit’s role, in the big picture;• It builds understanding that senior management is aware of issues facing staff.• Attendees become acquainted with others in the department and hear theviewpoints of colleagues in other sections.• Attendees express their views and alert senior management to issues.• The program builds team spirit and fosters morale.Cons• Some say that these sessions weaken middle management, that staff go aroundtheir managers to the top. Others counter that staff do not go around middlemanagers who address – or at least acknowledge – issues raised by staff.• Senior management gets involved in operational minutiae, things that middlemanagement is paid to deal with.A M A N A G E R ’ S G U I D E T O C O M M U N I C A T I N G W I T H E M P L O Y E E S 25