Is Silence Golden?

During the last few years I have received a few anonymous letters and tons of feedback on supervisor surveys and other surveys about the danger of silence in our agencies and throughout IPS.

Silence is not appropriate when there is an issue that needs to be put on the table and discussed. Silence is not appropriate when there is conflict that needs to be addressed. Silence is not appropriate when someone is conducting themselves unbecoming of a UT employee.

What can we do about the silence?

(1) We are continuing to collect and act on data through surveys.

(2) We have an employee relations council that is the voice of our employees to bring up important issues that need to be discussed.

(3) I have an open door policy and I expect every member of the IPS Leadership Team to be open to suggestions and criticism. It's how we get better.

(4) Ultimately, we can only overcome silence if you are willing to speak up.

I want us to be the type of organization that doesn't have to conduct anonymous surveys out of fear or filter information through a third party. I want us to be the type of high performing organization that we are helping our customers' organizations become.

Are you willing to break the silence and speak up?