How This IT Team Couldn’t Change Their Culture and Communication Until They Changed Where They Sat

Oct 8, 2020 | Executive Coaching Blogs, Hot Mess Hotline Podcast, Workplace Communication

Mike Loggins and I discuss how to improve communication within a team on this episode of the Hot Mess Hotline. When it came to team communication strategies, Mike had some ridiculous ambiguity on his hands.

Mike used to believe that if the leadership of the organization just designed the best processes and bought the newest technology then, voila, there will be transformation and cultural change.

Here’s what it really takes: thinking from a new perspective. Mike and his team figured out that those beliefs were short-sighted and the current strategies weren’t effective. But even after this realization, their work wasn’t finished. Some people changed, others didn’t, and those that embraced change became overburdened.

Problems escalated beyond where they should, with top leaders being brought in to handle conflict that should have been taken care of by the immediate mid-level management. Furthermore, the leadership didn’t know what team communication strategies would be most effective or how to build trust at work among the conflicted teams.

Mike even encountered a situation where one manager went behind his back to bring in a new unapproved system. This manager didn’t understand what Mike had learned: tying success to a shiny new tool instead of determining the root cause of the problem will ultimately not work. Rather than help his team, this manager delayed success and caused conflict with Mike.

Listen to this episode of the Hot Mess Hotline to learn how Mike’s team initially tackled their change initiatives, then listen to part 2 of Mike’s interview here where we talk about how to really improve communication within a team and how Mike made quick but ultimately very impactful change on a low budget.

The Hot Mess Hotline brings in CEOs and other leaders share their experiences on the hot messes they’ve landed in and the skills and experiences they used (and learned) to get out of them! If you know a CEO or leader whose experience would be a great one to learn from, please let me know at hello@stefaniekrievins.com.

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About Mike Loggins

Mike Loggins is not only the Global VP of IT at SMC, he is a transformative leader raising the bar for awesome across the organization, and a Pro Troublemaker! Mike has worked in the IT space for many years, but has spent the last 14 years at SMC. Mike’s vision for how amazing it is to work at SMC is one many leaders should model. He values inclusion, growth, support, diversity, empathy, career advancement for his team, and a catalyst mindset.

About SMC

SMC partners with our customers to discover creative ways to reduce overall compressed air and electrical consumption more than anyone else in the industry. Their comprehensive approach focuses on consuming less raw materials in their manufacturing process by making our products smaller, lighter and extending the operating life. Learn more at https://www.smcusa.com/.

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