As a family-owned business, we know that effective communication with our employees is key to our success. That’s why we were thrilled to attend the recent workshop hosted by the Center for Family Business at California State Fullerton. The workshop focused on the important topic of “Communicating to your Workforce: How Much and How Often do you Communicate with your Employees?” and featured a panel of experts who shared their insights and best practices.
The moderator for the panel was Jenny Dinnen, President of Mackenzie Group, a marketing and customer experience agency. Dinnen brought a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the panel, and kept the discussion focused and engaging. She asked thoughtful questions and encouraged the panelists to share their experiences and insights.
One of the panelists was Lisa Fratzke, President of Fratzke Media, a business growth consulting agency. Fratzke emphasized the importance of clear and consistent communication with employees, especially during times of change or uncertainty. She shared some of the strategies that have worked well for her company, including culture building, operational and interpersonal communications to keep employees informed and engaged.
Greg Totten, CEO of Totten Tubes, a steel tubing distributor, also spoke on the panel. Totten stressed the importance of creating a culture of communication. Totten shared his insights on how to navigate the often-tricky terrain of transitioning from a first-generation to a second-generation family-owned business. He emphasized the importance of communicating changes in a way that makes employees feel valued and appreciated, and shared some of the strategies that have worked well for his company. Totten’s expertise on this topic is invaluable for any business owner looking to make a smooth transition while keeping their employees engaged and motivated.
Finally, Joshua Gonzalez, Vice President of Human Resources at Northgate Markets, a grocery store chain, shared his insights on how to communicate effectively with a distributed workforce of 41 stores. One of the strategies that has worked well for Northgate Markets is having store managers spend time on the floor on Sundays, instead of being in the office all day. This allows them to interact with employees and ensure they have the support they need to do their jobs effectively. Gonzalez’s expertise on communicating with a distributed workforce is invaluable for any business owner looking to maintain a cohesive and engaged team, no matter where they are located.
Overall, the workshop was a great opportunity for our small family-owned business to learn and connect with other local businesses. We left the workshop with a renewed focus on effective communication with our team, and some new strategies to implement in our own business. We are grateful to the Center for Family Business at California State Fullerton for hosting such a valuable and informative event.
