32-2 Congratulating an Employee on a New Management Concept

Situation:

In visiting the suburban warehousing and distribution center located about 30 miles from the home office, the company president is impressed by the way in which the operations Vice President has established communication between headquarters and suburban-based employees. The president writes to compliment the Operations Vice President on the idea and tell him how well it is working.

 

The Letter:

Dear Morrie:

I enjoyed sitting in on your new Joint Management Group get-together at Industrial Park on Tuesday.

I learned a lot from the experience. I realized perhaps for the first time how important it is for home-office brass to make themselves available to employees who labor in warehousing and shipping--miles from the home office--and have up to now been sort of invisible.

Surely this new committee, with its monthly get-together, smooths the lines of communication and gives those in the hinterlands a feeling of importance and belonging. It was easy to see that a lot of problems can be quickly solved when there is complete candor in an informal setting. Everyone seemed to feel to unload his or her pet peeves without fear of recrimination. Now that's communication!

The plant tour was a treat, too. After it was over, I came away feeling that the employees at Industrial Park know we know what they are doing and how well it is being done.

Congratulations, Morrie, on this idea. I hope you'll invite me another me. Can we have pizza and beer again for lunch?

Yours sincerely,