D’oh! I Broke Key Rules

I find it amazing how life reminds us that we are human and subject to the same mistakes other folks make. Please use this example of my own mistakes to help you avoid them in the future.

We recently sent out a 1-question survey to 277 folks, using Survey Monkey, a free online survey site. The response has been fantastic—over 10%—28 of you responded and told us what the two toughest things are that you have had to learn as a CEO or manager. I would love to share the responses with those who responded, but . . .

I was a dummy!

When we set the survey up, I didn’t read the directions. I just ASSUMED I would be able to see who responded. Wrong. You have to format the survey a certain way to capture email addresses of respondents. I didn’t read the directions and ASSUMED things would go the way I thought they would.

KEY RULE: Stop making assumptions!

We all make lots of assumptions every day. And, as I proved, our assumptions are often wrong. Ask questions. Read directions. Get clarity.

So, I’m sitting here with all the great responses we received, and I can’t tell who I need to thank for responding and I can’t share the responses with those who participated. Short of sending another email to 277 people, and we don’t really want to do that. Thus, I broke another key rule of communication.

KEY RULE: If you do a survey, you must share the responses with participants.

You don’t have to share every response, but you do need to tell them collective responses, what percent said what, the response rate, etc. Even if the responses are not what you wanted.

This is actually a key rule for building trust between employers and employees.

If you’re one of the 28 who responded to our survey and are interested in the results, please let us know. Send an email to pam@WeKnowEngineers.com with “Send me survey results” in the subject line.

If you didn’t participate but wish you had, send us an email and we’ll share the results with you as well. But you have to promise to participate next time.

COMING UP

How to get introverts to open up (as promised in last week’s blog).

www.WeKnowEngineers.com is reportedly going live on May 6—my birthday. Check us out.

Watch for news on an online coaching program for your Future Leaders. The survey responses showed a significant need for helping engineers understand the business of the business—how you make money, how you deal with people, and how you market. If you want to be sure you don’t miss news on this program as we pull it together, please email futureleaders@weknowengineers.com and you’ll get the info as soon as we know it.

Whatever form the program takes, it will be very limited in the number who can participate. And it will be on a first come, first serve basis.