Managing Upward Communication

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Generating useful information from below requires managers to both facilitate and motivate upward communication.

Improve Upward Communication:
For example, they could have an open-door policy and encourage people to use it, have lunch or coffee with employees, use surveys, institute a suggestion program, or hold town hall meetings. They can ask for advice, make informal plant visits, really think about and respond to employee suggestions, and distribute summaries of new ideas and practices inspired by employee suggestions and actions.103

Some executives practice MBWA (management by wandering around). That term refers simply to getting out of the office, walking around, and talking frequently and informally with employees.104 Over his 40-year career with Marriott Corporation, Bill Marriott would walk through many of the firm's hotels to speak with employees and to ensure they were delivering consistent, high-quality service to customers.105
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Useful upward communication must be reinforced and not punished. The person who tries to talk to the manager about a problem must not be brushed off repeatedly. An announced open-door policy must truly be open-door. Ideally, people trust their bosses and know that they will not hold a grudge against whoever delivers negative information. Managers should truly listen and learn, not punish the messenger for being honest, and take constructive action on valid comments.