Open Door Versus Open Communication

This article confirmed many of my suspicions about quite a lot of contemporary organizational communication commentary.

http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/6352.html
This article argues that merely walking around doesn't improve things in the workplace. What improves things is open, honest, and responsive communication. This is a unique and important skill that doesn't just happen.

A lot of change initiatives that come in the form of "communication" seminars that challenge managers to get in the game by getting into the workplace. Peters and Waterman in their book In Search of Excellence coined the phrase Management by Walking Around (MBWA). They suggested that managers must become involved in the activities of their organization by being present.

The problem is that presence does not mean people communicate more effectively. This anticipates some things D'Aprix says in his book, which we will read for some of our upcoming conversations. D'Aprix argues that communication about change must be intentional and strategic. It must focus on the market and it must engage employees by informing them.

I suppose there's nothing earth shattering in this data but it's nice to know that somebody has documented what everybody already knew. Just being there isn't enough.