Ignorance Isn't Bliss!: Or why you should keep staff informed.

I've never held a supervisor's role, but I have been a teacher and a coach, and I have been (and am) an employee. These experiences have taught me the importance of keeping people informed, and that it's just as important for the supervisor as it is for the employees.

• As the boss, you cover your bases – no one can claim they didn't know about policy, procedure, schedule, etc., changes and use ignorance as an excuse.

• It's preventive medicine. As George Bernard Shaw said, "There are no secrets better kept than the secrets that everybody guesses." (Or, as Professor Dumbledore said in the first Harry Potter book, "What happened … between you … is a complete secret, so, naturally, the whole school knows.")

That is, if there are changes afoot, even if they are supposed to be confidential, staff knows something is going on, and understandably they become concerned and begin to speculate and to gossip. And like kids playing a game of broken telephone – the initial story, even if accurate, won't be accurate for every long. You can't – and don't have to – spill the beans entirely about confidential matters. It's enough to provide general information and let everyone know that you'll keep them informed as much as possible as new information becomes available.

• Having information helps employees feel like they're part of a team. No one is left out of the loop. Even better for the boss, if problems are on the horizon, the employees may have ideas about what can be done about them.

• It's a great way to show employees that they and their work are valued.

• It builds trust. Staff can stay current on issues affecting their jobs, and there will be fewer surprises which, in case of staff cutbacks, gives them time to make alternate plans.

• Similarly, if any bad news that you, as the supervisor, warned the employees about (e.g., layoffs) does occur, it's less of a shock. As a result, they're less likely to grumble about you – to use another quote, as Lincoln said, "Truth is generally the best vindication against slander."

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Ignorance Isn't Bliss!

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Mark Grzeskowiak

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