Discussion-Appropriate Communication

Using appropriate language that will achieve the intent of communicating with employees as well as other internal and external stakeholders is an important part of a leader's or manager's effectiveness. Knowing what to say, and how to state it in an appropriate manner, can make the difference between communication that succeeds or fails.

Read the following blog posting and provide feedback on its level of effectiveness. Consider that you have to send this message yourself. How would you write it if you had to follow the "language of leaders?"

It has come to my attention that many of you are lying on your time cards. If you come in late, you should not put 8:00AM on your card. If you take a long lunch, you are not supposed to hide that and sign like the lunch took only one hour. I will not stand for this type of cheating. I simply have no other choice but to institute an employee monitoring. Beginning next week, a video system will be installed in the building with cameras monitoring all entrances, and entry and exit times will be logged every time you use electronic key cards to enter or leave the premises.

Anyone arriving late for work or returning late from lunch more than three times will have to answer directly to me. I don't care if you had to take a nap or if your family had to go shopping. This is a place of business, and we do not need to be taken advantage of by slackers who are cheaters to boot.

It is too bad that a few bad apples always have to spoil things for everyone.