Transparency at work

Transparency At Work: Why It’s Important

 

            

Source: digipli

            Transparency at work often translates into highly productive and effective organizations. Encouraged transparency eliminates confusion and builds trust with managers and employees, as you work towards establishing a healthy, happy and satisfying work environment. 

               

            Transparency in business matters from the second you hire people and affects long-term relationships because it fosters a company culture built on honesty, trust and open communications. Seeing as transparency in the workplace is a must for any organization, this article will cover what a transparent culture is, why it’s important, what kinds of benefits it offers and 8 effective ways to actually create it (Dagher, 2022). 

How transparency at work can help your team

            Some companies think open floor plans, monthly staff meetings, and detailed reports equate to transparency. But these are just logistics: transparency must be core to company values.

            Transparency at work requires great technology and a company culture centred on openness. The result: increased productivity and trust.

Here are a few ideas for creating a transparent organization.

Trust employees to make decisions

Source: achievers

            When important information is accessible, everyone will understand the goals of the company and feel empowered to make better decisions independently. Make sure that high-level priorities are communicated to all team members so everyone understands what they’re working toward.

Don’t keep responsibilities and job functions a secret

            We waste a lot of time trying to figure out who’s responsible for what and who to ask for help. Instead of using a complicated org chart, why not employ a simple list of responsibilities so each employee can take ownership of a specific set of tasks? As a result, everyone else on the team will be aware of what everyone else is working on and who they need to ask for guidance, deliverables, and sign-off.

Share results

Source: dreamstime

            Don’t just share plans, let employees see what worked and what didn’t. Leaders who speak openly about the state of the company gain trust. While it can be difficult to reveal you had a bad quarter financially, keeping employees in the know every step of the way maintains confidence in your leadership and company. It can be particularly important during periods of high growth or financial struggle.

Know where to draw the line

            Transparency isn’t about knowing everyone’s business, it’s about making sure everyone has the information they need to do their jobs effectively. Of course, there is such a thing as too much transparency; keep performance reviews, employee salaries, and other sensitive matters private. Every company has a different comfort level, so figure out what works best for you.

Hire the right people

Source: globallinker

            To maintain a transparent culture as your company grows, hire people who are excited about your approach. Communicate your values early in the interview process and ensure they resonate with candidates. The right candidates will be more excited to join your team if they are able to identify with your mission and philosophy, not just your product, or their specific role in the company.

Establish open communication channels

            Ensure that everyone in the company knows where to turn when they need information. Modern technologies like Asana break down the barriers of communication, making it easier to share big and small messages and announcements with employees across every department.

This article was inspired by the Fast Company article, “How Extreme Transparency Can Make Your Team its Most Productive” (Asana, 2014).

What are the benefits of workplace transparency?

1. Encourages communication and sharing

Source: insperity

When employees see how open and communicative upper management is with their entire organization, they'll also feel empowered to share. This could mean sharing innovative ideas, new processes to improve workflows or feedback during performance reviews. Companies thrive when their workforce trusts that they can safely bring forward new ideas and feedback. 

2. Better employee engagement and happiness

A transparent workplace recognizes its people's hard work and successes and builds trust among management and employees, which in turn, leads to happier, more engaged workers. Engaged and happy workers can only benefit your company's bottom line. 

3. Strong workplace culture and values

Source: surveylegend

When your company makes an active effort to share knowledge across the organization, it's demonstrating that management trusts, respects, and values employees at all levels. Leaders are responsible for setting the precedent that transparency is valuable, and expected across the entire organization. 

4. Better customer relations

All of the above benefits translate into better customer relations because your staff will care about your company's performance. Employees who feel trusted and respected will want their organization to thrive (Team, 2021). 

 

Conclusion

Transparency can help to improve overall trust and honesty in the organization. it solves many problems and even stops disasters before they happen. Transparency in the workplace helps achieve many advantages and even increases revenue.

 

Reference

Asana (2014) 6 ways to create transparency at Work • Asana, Asana. Available at: https://asana.com/resources/workplace-transparency (Accessed: March 21, 2023).

Dagher, K. (2022) Transparency at work: Why it's important (+ 6 ways to create it), Fellow.app. Available at: https://fellow.app/blog/management/transparency-at-work-why-its-important/ (Accessed: March 21, 2023). 

Team, G. (2021) Transparency in the workplace: Why it matters and how to practice it - glassdoor for employers, US | Glassdoor for Employers. Available at: https://www.glassdoor.com/employers/blog/transparency-in-the-workplace/ (Accessed: March 21, 2023).