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Hi guys,

As always enjoying the podcasts and I have listened with interest to the casts on communications. I would like to explore further your comments around communicating sensitive information.

Firstly I will say that I am 100% in agreement with your view - my issue is that being a 'middle' manager is how do I handle the situation where my peers and more importantly my senior managers do not share my approach to pass on the sensitive info.  My concern here is that in a company where blame culture and fear are endemic I could be viewed as a maverick and worse still a 'poor' performer when it comes to judgement.

If this is covered later in the casts please ignore ;-)

Scoobs

Mark's picture
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What specifically are you wanting help with?  What are you sharing that they're not, and/or what are they sharing that you're not?

Could you share 1-2 examples?

 

Mark

scoobyslippers's picture

Hi Mark,

Thanks for taking the time to reply.  One example I can think of is my company has recently been taken over and there is the enivitable choices around which IT systems will be the target systems going forward (I am a manager within the IT space).  I am aware of the final decisions that have been made around which systems will be chosen and despite the fact that there will be no official communication around the 'successful' applications, this information is considered sensitive at the moment, and the direction I have been given is that this is not to be disclosed wider.  My view is that people should be aware of the direction the organisation is taking as it will help them make informed choices in preparation for when the company contracts in the future.  From a business perspective this seems to make little sense, as investment is continuing unabated on the legacy systems.

Kind regards,

Scoobs

tedtschopp's picture

I am curious, are the successful applications internally or externally developed?  Are there any contracts with external vendors that support these applications in place?

I know where I work, that decisions regarding the support of legacy products is generally not openly communicated because there are outstanding contract and staffing negotiations going on to support these products.  Once these staffing and contractual pieces put in place, then decisions are communicated.  

I look forward to hearing Mark's response.  

Ted Tschopp
เท็ด ชอปป์  - टेड चप - ثڍودور تشوب - Թէտ Չըփ - Ted Çeöp - தெட் த்சப்

scoobyslippers's picture

Hi Ted,

The successful applications are internally developed and supported.

Scott

scoobyslippers's picture

Hi Ted,

The successful applications are internally developed and supported.

Scott

Mark's picture
Admin Role Badge

Now that you've said that this particular area is both known to you and you have been directed not to share, DON'T SHARE.

Easy answer.  What others do...is what others do.  If they're sharing, they're behaving unprofessionally.

If it continues, and it's fairly clear that everyone knows (which is sadly often the case), then go back to those who gave you the guidance and let them know the cat's out of the bag (don't say who did so) and ask for updated guidance.

Mark

scoobyslippers's picture

Much appreciated guidance - many thanks :)