The statistics from this survey in People Management are not uncommon and staff surveys frequently highlight communication as a problem area.
In our work with senior management teams there is often a disconnect between what the Board think is happening, even at the next management level down, and what that next level of managers perceive as reality.
There's also the critical lack of awareness that individual board members and directors can have around their own skills and capabilities.
Self awareness is one of the most underrated capabilities of leadership, and it is strongly linked to a willingness to learn and to change. These are essential capabilities for leaders in the fast moving business environment
The same applies to teams. Teams need to look at their own skills and characteristics as a team, how they get things done, how they manage and deal with conflict, and how they solve problems. They are then in a position to plan how they are going to change and improve their performance.
So, as well as opening up and improving communications, Directors and other senior managers must be prepared to understand their own strengths and weaknesses, and must be willingto learn and to change. If they're not prepared to do these things, how will they be able to take the organisation forward?