How to inspire trust after major layoffs?

[Lois Kelly]

A CEO friend has layed off more than half the employees in his company over four different RIFs over 6 months. Now he wonders what is the best way to re-engage his management team and inspire trust? He's a great communicator -- transparent, genuine, clear. What would you do if you were in his shoes? Thanks!

[Lois Kelly]

Jason, Thanks. I agree that feeling in control is big. Also think the mistake with executive communications comes down to " It's not what you say, it's what people hear." The traditional "messaging" often fails on the latter.
Lois

[Ben Simonton]

I would stop talking to employees and start listening to them. Find out what they want and how they want it. Find out how they think would be the best way to get it and help them to get it. They will have concerns, suggestions, complaints, and questions, each of which must be addressed in order for them to become committed to their work, to become engaged. Fully engaged people are at least 300% more productive than if not engaged.

The problem great communicators have is they tend to talk too much and rarely listen. Being a great communicator doesn't help one to manage people and may in fact be detrimental. Listening to and responding respectfully to employees is what they need to feel respected and develop a sense of ownership of the business from which comes commitment and motivation.

Take a look at these articles
http://www.bensimonton.com/articles.html

Best regards, Ben

[Adam Hibbert]

Thought arising - anyone digging into this issue (hopefully in preparation, not in crisis) might benefit from reading an amazing bit of research from the mid-90s by Denise Rousseau - the book form is on amazon as "The Psychological Contract in Organizations", in which the author itemises both the key variables in cases where that contract is (inevitably) violated, and the key remediations a company can invest in to mitigate the damage. Karen Drury at fe3 (uk) turned me on to this research, and it's incredibly insightful. Can't recommend enough.