Communication in the workplace is so important. A successful workplace will have strong communication between workers themselves as well as between managers and staff. It’s vital, if employees and co-workers don’t know what’s going on within the company how can they work towards achieving a specific goal or fixing a problem.
WestJet cofounder Don Bell says, “If you can find effective ways to communicate with your people, tell them whatever you can tell them. Tell them everything, because if you do, they will give you everything.”1
Another key aspect of communication is listening. It’s easy to tell employees they’re always welcome to voice their opinion but it’s so important to not only listen to co-workers concerns and ideas, but to act on them and follow up. WestJet knows this and seems to always put this into practice.
WestJet management often even hold small chat sessions which employees are asked to attend. These meetings allow staff to voice concerns, ask questions and make suggestions. Doing a meeting like this is vital in showing how executives and management value each employee’s opinion, no matter how small.
1. Magnan, M. (2007, November 5). Live & Learn-WestJet co-founder Don Bell. Retrieved May 26, 2009, from Canadian Business: http://www.canadianbusiness.com/managing/ceo_interviews/article.jsp?content=20071105_198721_198721&page=1
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