From time to time, I like to give you glimpses into my life. In that spirit, here’s a picture of the painting that’s hanging on our toilet wall. One day, my wife decided to put her own spin on Banksy’s monkey, and this is the result. Call me biased, but I like it. In fact, I’m fascinated by it. Admittedly, I spend quite some time staring at the painting. And last week, it hit me: this painted primate is the perfect example of what happens if you don’t have a solid information sharing strategy.
The music in our heads (vs. the world around us)
Let’s have a closer look at the monkey. It’s staring into the distance with its headphones on, eyes closed, hand slapped over its mouth. Is our little friend enjoying the music? Probably. Is the monkey hearing what’s happening in its immediate surroundings? I don’t think so. And that’s why it can’t truly be part of the world it’s in.
The painting shows us a creature that has perfect sight and hearing but remains silent. The same happens with humans on the work floor when no one tells them what’s going on: they’re silenced. They might have the potential to come up with smart ideas and solutions, but their skills go to waste. If no one takes time to share important information with employees, they don’t hear anything except for the music in their own heads. So, they decide it’s better to keep their mouths shut.
Help employees use their voices
This type of numbness can easily be avoided. If, for example, you provide contact center agents with actionable, real-time, at-a-glance information, they’ll be able to quickly respond to any situation. They can make informed decisions on the spot, improving customer satisfaction and achieving organizational goals.
The way to provide them with such data is Visual Management. It allows you to share the right information with the right people at the right time, using a visually structured and appealing model. You can keep employees up to date, enabling them to talk to customers and give feedback to management. The information you share empowers them. And as they know their voices are heard, they will use them.
Want to explore your Visual Management opportunities? Please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re happy to perform a Quick Scan and discuss your information sharing strategy.