 | Bill Lee is owner and CEO of Scott Rice Office Interiors, LLC, a company created in 1934, then known as Bauman's. Scott Rice is a Steelcase dealer and an Office Furniture USA franchise owner. Scott Rice provides office furniture, modular carpet, panel systems and related installation and moving services to businesses and organizations throughout central Kansas. Bill acquired Scott Rice in December 2003 after serving as general manager for the three previous years. He has a broad background in sales/sales management and held general management positions in four different companies over the last 25 years. Bill has managed businesses in several different arenas to include office products, paper converting, specialty advertising and now office furniture. He has been involved in three business turnarounds during his management career. Bill grew up in Southeast Kansas and graduated from Kansas University. He served as an Army infantry officer in Vietnam and considers this experience as his best learning experience related to people management. Bill has always felt that managing toward superior service performance is the key to success in any organization and he made that a top priority at Scott Rice from the very beginning. |
Office Environment
2006-05-01 16:01:00
The office ‘rumor mill’...not good
Question: I think our office would win the award for the biggest ‘rumor mill’. Once it gets started, is there anyway to control it?
ANSWER: The “rumor mill” is everywhere – in business and private life. People want information that they think might affect their future and ultimately their decisions regarding their future. In the absence of information they take what facts they have and fill in the blanks with what they believe to be the truth. When people start discussing these issues openly we have the “rumor mill” working in full force. Furthermore, the tendency is to fill in the blank spaces with the worst case scenarios. The rumor mill can be helpful in some instances but usually it leads to unproductive activity and lower morale. Therefore, it is always better in the long run for managers and employees to practice good communications in an effort to manage the rumor mill syndrome. What can management do? Anticipation of change is the fuel for rumors. 1. Keep employees focused on the goals. 2. Share related information with employees. When employees know the goal and have the facts they will reach common conclusions even though they may not have access to all the information.. 3. Information usually needs repeating and updating – silence can be interpreted as “things have changed” and create more rumors. 4. Encourage employees to come to management with rumor concerns. Don’t shoot the messenger. You need employee feedback whether you like the message or not. 5. In extreme cases an outside consultant may be helpful in quelling inaccurate rumors. 6. Make sure managers are communicating a consistent message – different stories from different managers can add fuel to the rumor mill.7. Management is usually isolated from rumors but you need to know about them as they can result in serious problems. Don’t shoot from the hip – put a lot of thought into your response and reaction to rumors.What can employees do? Whatever you hear (or make up) may or may not be true.1. Determine how the rumor might affect you but don’t react. 2. Don’t perpetuate the problem by talking with other employees. 3. Discuss the rumor with your boss. Don’t push the boss too hard. The boss may not be at liberty to discuss specific details. Sometimes letters of confidentiality are involved. 4. Share information with the boss. Let management know how the rumor will impact employee morale and productivity.
