The Corporate Shrink

Final column talks about conversations
by Kerry J. Sulkowicz - Fast Company

[ Commentary by Meryl K. Evans, Editor ]

Kerry J. Sulkowitz has been writing The Corporate Shrink column for Fast Company for the past three years. In the last column, Sulkowitz provides advice on conversations. I believe an important point comes in this paragraph:

“Yet large companies so often operate in ways that thwart good conversations. There are formal processes for everything, with well-intentioned manuals, training programs, hierarchies, and corporate jargon that mostly keep employees from really communicating. We typically assess a colleague’s work, for example, via online surveys, psychological tests, and language that strenuously shuns direct criticism. Anything to avoid taking a colleague aside and telling him what he’s doing wrong.”

As one who has worked for several large companies and the U.S. government, this quote doesn’t surprise me. If I could do one thing over in my last corporate job, I would’ve scheduled more time to meet with my manager in person. Too much communication came from third party resources (emails, other employees, meetings) and most of it inaccurate.

What challenges do you face in terms of conversations? Or what have you done to avoid this situation?