How 4 leaders are establishing greater transparency in their companies

The future of work demands that companies prioritize transparency. This is the key to building trust with employees and customers while meeting modern expectations. But to capitalize on it, you need to make transparency the foundation of your corporate culture.

Why? Culture influences habits and behaviors, and it also impacts the policies and decisions of many management teams. When transparency is built into your culture, it affects every aspect of your operations.

As employees and customers navigate the post-pandemic world, you need to make greater strides in maintaining a transparent company culture. Here's what other leaders are doing to increase transparency in their own companies:

1. Set clear goals that are built collaboratively with teams: Bob Marsh, Chief Revenue Officer at Bluewater

Difficulties quickly arise when transmitting goals from the top of the org chart, says Marsh. This can leave employees in the dark about how their contributions fit into your business strategies and wondering if they have ownership of their own work. Resistance will soon follow, and you could find yourself facing a host of problems (e.g. departmental silos, employee disengagement, rote executions).

"When everyone is involved and speaking up, it's much easier to get everyone to achieve results as a team," says Marsh. "Once goals are set, transparency is needed to help people understand where they are at as a team so they can celebrate success or course-correct together."

Marsh also believes that such an approach to goal setting helps establish a coaching culture, as managers are clear about goals and can explain how day-to-day work contributes to results.

The transition to a collaborative approach to goal setting is not without challenges. You have to find a balance. Bringing your whole team together for goal development isn't about building consensus, according to Marsh. You don't give up on something just because an employee disagrees with what was offered. Input is important and can help shape your decisions. It can even bring to light an idea that would otherwise go unnoticed. But the leadership has the final say in the final decision.

2. Provide clients with practical advice from a place of deep expertise: Barbie Adler, Founder and President of Selective Search

As the leader of a matchmaking company, Adler understands the importance of building a business on integrity, transparency, and trust. Clients trust her team to help them find love, which means they need to feel comfortable sharing the most intimate aspects of their lives. And because clients rely on members of the Selective Research team for their expert advice, holding back won't lead to success.

Transparent guidance should be built into your service, as well as into every customer interaction with your brand. The Adler team demonstrates this through ongoing coaching sessions with the company's clientele.

"Once we begin working with a client, our Meet Your Future™ process brings an even greater level of transparency to the relationship with clearly defined milestones, comprehensive timelines, and detailed documentation of progress," says Adler. “As clients work closely with their matchmakers, the significant impact of transparency becomes even more evident through our ongoing coaching sessions. These open discussions provide valuable, direct and honest feedback to identify trends and issues. dating patterns that could hinder long-term relationship success."

3. Develop strong processes for setting expectations with team members and partners: T. Scott Law, Founder and CEO of Zotec Partners

The most effective way to create transparency in the company is to do it through your processes, in accordance with the law