Communication Feedback

During the Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 planning sessions, participants engaged in table-top exercises prompted by the theme "Help Define Success" in three focus areas—senior leadership, communication and collaboration. Below is a summation of responses under communication.

Theme 1: Qualitative Characteristics

  • Honest/open
  • Accurate
  • Foster sense of engagement with the individual
  • Intentional – curated stories/message
  • Describing success
  • Civility
  • More equal and less hierarchal
  • Positive intent
  • Responsive when asked a question
  • Safe environment to share
  • Proactive and not reactive

Theme 2: Content

  • Clear and concise objectives
  • If an issue exists, clearly define it and how it will be resolved
  • Informative but less detail and more quality
  • Specific to internal communications but also believe more messaging from WMU to/with community is necessary
  • Both positive and negative messaging/need to be open to the harder conversations
  • Communicate appreciation for value added
  • Celebrate successes and moments of pride

Theme 3: Process

  • Timely (employees should know before public also came through)
  • Updates provided as needed
  • Consistent and frequent
  • Both in person and written
  • Open door times
  • President Cabinet members visibility
  • Smaller groups as well as town halls
  • Multiple mediums used – email, social media, print, in person
  • Balance between communications and action
  • Don’t use information to build power base – share
  • Website needs to support communication
  • Cross directional throughout the organizations

Theme 4: Built in Features

  • Feedback loops provided
  • Interaction preferred
  • Cross divisional
  • More structure to divisional meetings
  • We need to listen
  • Don’t talk
  • Ask employees how their jobs are going
  • Demonstrated action/closure/progress

Theme 5: Communicate Strategic Vision/Goals

  • Periodic updates on goal achievement
  • Shared understanding of goals
  • Clarity on mission
  • Everyone needs to know how their role contributes to mission
  • Focus and unification
  • A story line that is known
  • Needs to be known by external audience
  • Resource allocation that supports plan
  • Communicate outcomes

Theme 6: Involvement of faculty/staff

  • How they can help
  • Committee participation opportunities – how they can volunteer
  • Improve communications between faculty and staff
  • Consult with impacted employees prior to decision and/or broader communication – seek input
  • Importance of inclusivity
  • Individual has to take ownership and responsibility as well
  • Volunteerism

Theme 7: Specific actions requested

  • Deans, Associate provosts, VPs participate in the Turkey Trot and other student events
  • Senior administrators attend international student luncheon every week
  • President/cabinet join other meetings at staff level
  • Regular Q&A with the President
  • Provide whistle blower safety and anonymity
  • Monthly town halls
  • Regular Presidential updates
  • Suggestion box concept
  • Weekly social media post
  • A Fall and Spring Engagement Activity
  • Quarterly town halls held by president, also VPS, also deans
  • Leadership chats – have bagels/coffee hours to talk with staff
  • Daily logs by leaders
  • University calendar