360-degree communication increases business value.
Managers are required to provide reports on their department’s performance to the Executive department (via the Dashboard and weekly management meetings), but to also tell them what they think “with the bark off”, providing honest and direct feedback with their opinions on how the business can be improved.
When raising issues with the Executive department, managers work to come away with both that decision, and also a precedent. Professional managers pose issues so as to evoke broader policy guidance. This can help to answer a range of similar issues likely to arise later, and must be fed into systems developed by the manager, disseminating that information to all staff now, and in the future.
Managers must attend scheduled meetings with the GM well prepared, and provide interim reports based on templates that report on data, conclusions, and recommendations that can be acted upon. They only come to the GM with solutions, not problems.
During meetings with the GM, managers take notes in the form of action items, and where possible take work away from the GM (allowing the GM to focus on broader strategic projects).
When delivering proposals or reports, managers ensure they are written in plain English, concisely, provide an outline of the problem, bottom line impact, a time frame, effort required, costs involved, and a step by step on how it will be implemented. Professional managers know that inaccurate reporting is frustrating and useless. They never submit a report that is inaccurate, instead adjust their schedule to ensure only ever timely and correct reporting is delivered.
Managers ensure that all reports delivered provide an overview, top-level data, findings and recommendations. Reports need not have a lot of details, but detail, when asked for, must be provided.
Managers know that which they are required report on, will improve, and how they fashion their reporting system announces their priorities and sets the department’s priorities, so staff can work towards common goals.
Professional managers ensure their data is comprehensive and correct before the presentation, ensuring the outcomes of the meeting can be attained. Managers put systems in place to ensure the quality of their data, and use template systems to ensure nothing is missed.
