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Personal Communication Is Critical to Deterring Rumors and Soothing Employee Concerns

Nov 28, 2009 Business Management

A great way to stop the uncertainty often felt by your employees is to create an environment of confidence by communicating with them well and often. In difficult times, the rumor mill works overtime among your employees and you need to respond to the rumors fast. It is critical for senior management to talk freely and honestly with the workforce in order to keep the rumors in check. This article gives five strategies to help ease employee anxiety and stop the rumor mills in their tracks.

1. Open Door Policy

It is very important for senior management to be attainable to and seen by the workforce. You should not wait for all of the details of a challenge or problem in the company to be worked out before letting your workforce know what’s going on. It is much better to keep them posted of the how the situation is developing and what you plan to do to respond to the situation along the way. When there is uncertainty with the economy and the success of the company, it becomes even more critical to be open and available to your employees. Your goal is not only to keep your employees informed, but to nip any unwarranted gossip in the bud and create confident employees.

2. Be Open About Bad News and Challenges Within the Organization

Your workforce knows times are rough and that the company will need to make changes to adapt, so there is no reason to keep bad news from them. Trying to pretend that all is well will only result in a distrustful workforce, and communicating with them will become even more tough. The best course of action to stop rumors and gossip is to communicate openly with your employees about the changes that are planned. If they trust that you will give them the updates and information they seek, your employees will stop gossiping and wait to hear the truth from you.

3. Aim to Give Personal Information

All too often, leaders communicate bad news via e-mails and memos. All leaders are busy, but your first priority must be the productivity of your workforce. Research has shown that face-to-face or voice-to-voice conversations build up trust in a relationship and also improve the clarity of your message. You may find yourself stumped by a question that you didn’t expect, but don’t worry. Your people don’t expect you to be perfect, but they will appreciate the time you took to talk to them.

4. Be Attentive

Face-to-face communication is two-way, which is a massive advantage. You will often find that your employees have great ideas that can help you, but listening doesn’t have to be about finding answers. Your employees will be motivated by the knowledge that their ideas and feelings are valued, and it can help them engage with the business and with you.

5. Recognize There Are Still Unanswered Questions

Talk as honestly as you can about what you do know and what you don’t. Your employees will recognize that you can’t know everything, and it will help to build trust and clarity if you explain why some details are still uncertain. Don’t make promises you can’t keep – if you are unsure, talk about probabilities and possibilities instead.

The only way to get the best out of your employees is through communication, the foundation of good management practice. Regardless of the company’s situation, make it a goal to always communicate openly, truthfully, and frankly.

Wendy Mack is a professional mentor, consultant, and author focusing on leading and communicating change. Contact Wendy at, or get her free e-book, Transforming Anxiety into Energy at www.WendyMack.com.

Tags: Business, Business Management, Career, change management, leadership, management, motivating employees, Self Improvement, team leading, workplace communication