An article by Amy C. Edmondson
Summary.
Is your organisation plagued by side conversations? A side conversation is one that happens outside of formal channels but is nonetheless focused on consequential aspects of the work. They happen in hallways, lunchrooms, bars, and e-mail exchanges — anywhere colleagues connect to debrief, complain, roll their eyes, or (occasionally) make wistful suggestions for improvement. Recent news reports on Boeing revealed an epidemic of side conversations about the 737 Max jetliner. There appear to have been rampant concerns about the Max during its development — and outright disdain for some of the decisions being made, technologies being put forward, and even for the company’s customers. This article explores how to recognise if crucial conversations are only happening in side conversations and if they are, how to change your organisation’s culture.
When Employees Are Open With Each Other, But Not Management