Work is where people spend most of the time. Imagine having a work environment with poor communication with your colleagues and management, this incites stress, disloyalty, and unhappiness. Transparency is the practice of being open and honest with others, no matter how challenging it might be. Any lack of trust in the workplace is linked to a lack of transparency. A happy work environment is one where employees have a relationship that is beyond just a boss and a mere worker. Transparency in a company can upsurge incorporation. This is because employees are more enthusiastic to take part in projects, and once they impose their time and energy, they would, without a doubt, accomplish the established goals. They work with the aim of enlightening their outcomes. Why is transparency necessary? Barbra Kantengwa, an educationist, notes that transparency starts when companies layout proper communication avenues and make it comfortable for all staff to air their voices, that way, in case of any problem, it can easily be solved. With open communication, employees feel valued and free to share suggestions, innovative ideas, and feedback that help the company to grow or thrive, she adds. She carries on that when employees feel valued and trusted, they would work towards forming better customer relations, which benefits the company. “Transparency is also crafted when bosses lead by example, for instance, you don’t expect workers to do as you say when you don’t. If you want them to be open, then it starts with you, allow them to count on you and feel free to talk to you whenever it’s necessary,” Kantengwa says. She carries on that it’s easy for employers and managers to communicate the company’s goals and work hand-in-hand with employees to fulfil them, if only there is trust. To her, when employees feel heard, seen, and their hard work, progress, and triumphs are appreciated, the workplace is safe and happy to be. Daniel Ganza, a PR consultant in Kigali says that companies that share information, data, and statistics of the businesses with employees show the need and trust for them to learn more, which is a sign that they can trust them to make decisions independently. He also says that company heads should increase employee engagement, for instance, by rewarding employees who make the effort to communicate and give their views openly, but also heartening the rest of the team with reasons why transparency is important. The PR consultant adds that the workplace culture should inspire honest expression as long as it is relevant without fearing losing their jobs. But also feedback regarding how the company can do better, should be welcomed. Ganza further notes that managers should share with employees the status of the company, both its successes and the goals that are not yet accomplished so that in case of any loss or setback, workers are not taken by surprise. “The beauty about communication is that workers are not left in the dark, and in case the company is experiencing financial challenges, it easy to let workers know that their salaries may delay. Employees need to be involved in the events of the company,” he says. Ganza adds that transparency assists in improving productivity as workers question anytime necessary and are given enough information needed to carry out tasks or projects. That way, they are less delayed thus delivering on time. He also stresses that feedback informs employees on what they need to work on and concedes their efforts when they do well. People who are transparent give constructive feedback. “To truly build a culture of transparency, you need to teach employees how to give and receive constructive feedback, and also make sure that some issues must remain confidential and only be shared among executive team and board members.”
