HBR Management Tip of the Day: 3 Questions Executives Should Ask Front-Line Employees

The higher up you are in an organization, the harder it is to keep up with what's happening on the ground. Get a real sense of what's going on in your company by asking your front-line workers:

• How can I help you? Ask your employees, suppliers, and customers — and make sure your middle managers do the same. Senior leaders need to show they care about the people at every level.
• Why are we doing it this way? Ask to learn, not to criticize. People enjoy being heard, and you'll benefit from real feedback. Enlist your employees in the process of figuring out what needs to change and of measuring progress.
• Are we supporting you? Ask if people have everything they need to do their jobs well. Take action based on what you hear. By staying in touch, you can build trust, motivate, and instill a common vision.

Read more in HBR. I liked this one because the best leaders that I have worked with during lean transformations (e.g., in factories, refineries, plants), always asked these things when walking the floor.