FEAR AND AMBIGUITY
Fear is big. It's bigger than we could have imagined.
FEAR AND AMBIGUITY
All aboard, and mind the communication gap
Forcing employees to read between the lines is dangerous.
Business change is often communicated badly. Leaders may use broad, sweeping statements and vague language in a bid to buy time whilst decisions are finalised, but this can be a damaging tactic, eroding morale, reducing trust, and wasting time.
The definition of innovation and the distribution of responsibility lacks clarity.
Innovation is often kicked around as a buzzword, lacking boundaries and defining features. Without clear definitions of success and failure, teams feel unfocused and fearful of overstepping the mark. No one understands the rules of the game.
For innovation to succeed, responsibility must be shared across a business. Individuals need to be given a license to contribute, pitch, and offer up their own unique experiences as they see innovation through the lens of their role.
An absence of clarity in processes, roles and responsibilities, combined with poor communication allows fear to thrive. For innovation to be possible, a good dialogue across the business is essential. This is especially important to businesses undergoing any kind of change.
Next, find out more about how change and fear interact...
