day 208: The Suggestion Box

Sometime along the way in the life cycle of a business someone says, "what we need is a suggestion box". The suggestion box becomes the way for people to communicate to management about their ideas and/or complaints anonymously and without perceived repercussion. While on the surface and at the time, this looks like a good idea, we have to stop and ask the underlying questions of why and how did we get to a place where the people in our organization can no longer feel free to speak directly to management? One of the early manifestations of the suggestion box will be when management wants to have a company meeting and they want questions taken ahead of time and they will ask for questions to be submitted through a question or suggestion box. The reason this happens is because management thinks that people are fearful to ask the tough questions. FYI, they are not fearful of asking the tough questions, they are fearful of the toughness of the answer. Once the suggestion box is set up, the culture and the tone of the company changes. An intercessory has been established and the direct communication lines have broken down. This is especially troubling when you see these communication crutches being created or supported when the company has created positions like Human Resources or Employee Relations to help facilitate and keep communication lines open. If the suggestion box is still hanging around after someone is being paid to be that conduit then that spells double-trouble. Free-flowing direct communication with a boss, senior management and each other are hallmarks of the great companies as no great company is such without a communication pattern that is open and free from fear. As believers we know what it is like to have an open communication channel to share our needs. Our Father allows us to come to Him directly and we know we can go to Him with whatever and whenever with our problems. Among many verses in the Bible where God says for us to call on Him, we read this is in Psalm 5:22: "Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you." Today as you pass the suggestion box at your company, or as you hear of others who have a problem that they don't feel like they can talk to anyone about, be that ear and be the encourager of direct, open and caring communication. It may be that you are the one who is in charge of ensuring that you have open communication within your team (if you are manager or supervisor of any sort, this is you). If so, then begin today role modeling how the suggestion box should really work...allowing people to come directly to you. And when you don't know the answer of you don't feel the courage or confidence to have the questions posed to you, you know where to to go directly to find the assurances, wisdom and power that you need to carry you through the day!

Reference: Psalm 55:22 (New Living Testament)