How do you really know what people are thinking?

Not to feed your paranoia or anything.  But, hey, as an appointee, you’re the interloper in a world that essentially has been there before ya and will be there long after ya!  All you have is communications.

If you’re lucky, there’s someone loyal around you that you can trust — who will give you the skinny.  AND, that doesn’t let you off the hook for doing your own footwork.

John Baldoni, Leadership Consultant and Coach, in a post at Harvard Business Online offers five ways to be in the know and create two-way dialogue to enhance open communications.  The tips are geared more toward business — and you’ll adapt them as you see fit.

Walk the halls. Make yourself visible to your team.  Check in and ask how things are working for them;

Listen to feedback. Give them time to respond.  The word “fine” is not an answer;

Report on feedback. Let your colleagues know what you are hearing and what it means;

Report on revisions. If you make a major change, or even a minor one, communicate it. Also, do more follow up to see how it is working. This is especially critical when there is initial resistance;

Conduct a communications audit. Baldoni writes this suggested to corporate leaders.  In state government you may not have this luxury — and you can still create ways to tap into what people are thinking, feeling, and doing related to your initiatives.

Here’s the full article