Keeping people informed

• Puzzled about why people complain when kept in the dark?
• If you don't feel short of information should others feel the same way?
• Perhaps it is reassurance they need rather than information.
• Do you know what's really behind their complaints?
• People can see lack of communication as intended to undermine them.
• If you are powerful, your silence could be seen as dangerous.
• Or as a lack of respect - as in ''these people don't count''.
• We laugh about the mushroom treatment, but to them it's no joke.
• How important is it to keep these people on your side?
• What are your first steps to keeping people better informed?
• You could ask them what they want to know.
• But they might not know what information they are missing.
• Do you hold regular briefings with key stakeholders?
• Keeping people informed doesn't imply telling them things they really should not be told. It's just a matter of having some regular channel so that questions can be asked and answered openly.
• Can you agree what sort of communication channel they want, how often they want information and what topics they want covered? Is it progress reports on vital projects? News from HQ? Or what?
• Then deliver what you promised. This is compatible with being open about where the boundaries are between what you can and cannot tell them.
• The key is to respect their needs rather than communicating only on the basis of your needs.