Kind of disappointed (but not surprised), that
no one seems willing to suggest how to establish real, unfiltered communication, from the bottom up.
As a rule, I generally try to spend more time listening than talking, which I guess bleeds through into this format as well......(tough sometimes though, especially when I get on a topic that I feel strongly about).......not sure if it was a dig at me or what, but I will take it as an inquiry into my thoughts......
Honestly, I believe a lot of the parts are already in place and are either poorly utilized or ineffective in their current state......in my mind, we must further improve the feedback mechanisms.......it is vital that people get more and better information back to them. How many frustrations are simply because they have not been properly informed about a particular subject? I see it all the time........ those should be the easiest issues to eliminate. Perfect example would be a while back when we were talking about the videos and such..........you were frustrated simply because you werent aware what was out there and should be available. How many of the daily issues are due to similar things............I would say a bunch.
Your idea about the committee type approach has promise.........the only thing I would knock against it would be the exclusion of middle levels of leadership.......leaving them in the dark wouldnt help close up the trust gap and might limit its effectiveness by not having their buy in to the process........I agree that it would have to have some sort of executive involvement to give access and provide a solid foundation, however, local leadership would need to have some involvement to ensure they could effectively exist as that vital feedback mechanism back to the folks at the centers......
Another thought might be to mix drivers, dock and leadership all from different parts of the country into the groups........minimal historical baggage while putting different backgrounds, perspectives and experiences together would most likely be effective in the problem solving process.......
Ideally the process would have a lot of transparency back to the field groups.........which the lack of, I feel, has probably contributed to the state in which we find ourselves.......
Seems to me that this company was built through folks working together to find solutions to problems that help the whole, it turn helping themselves......if certain groups are excluded, the whole thing becomes very frustrating and utlimately ineffective. The absolute key is finding the way to get back to that........
Ultimately, I feel that what we do isnt nearly as important as how we do it......
Some may need to listen more.........some may need to talk more (effectively)...........some may need to do both........
Lots of different ways to do it, more people will have to want to than dont, which is a challenge in itself........