When I became GM of a Tier 1 supplier, I scheduled one-on-ones with every single worker. 550 meetings in all. Here’s why.
As leaders, it should go without saying the importance of listening to employees.
by Mark Whitten | Jul 25, 2019 for Industry Week
So why don’t more leaders listen? In our hectic workplaces, it can be hard at times. However, I implore you to consider the benefits of taking that time. They outweigh the investment tenfold.
In late 2012, I took a new assignment as general manager of a Tier 1 automotive supplier in Ontario, Canada. This was a 30-year-old division that had an established culture. I was familiar with the facility; it had been through a tough launch and multiple management changes in the previous three years.
The intention of this meeting was to get to know each other. It’s important to take the time to connect, to show that you care about your employees as people. It also helps you understand what their expectations are, and gives you a chance to share what your intentions and goals are, so everyone can be aligned. I wanted them to understand my level of commitment to them as employees—and to driving a world-class manufacturing operation.
So I set out to schedule a meeting with each employee. The criteria were as follows:
- I would meet with the employee on their shift
- The meeting would be scheduled for 30 minutes
- I would start with the highest senior employees and work from there
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