#4: Communications consultants are idiots

My counterpart was a very renowned employment lawyer, and once again we had a lunch date. We’ve known and appreciated each other for years. On his recommendation we had already provided communicative support to several of his clients in sensitive situations. The cases weren’t that trivial, and he was thoroughly satisfied.

At least that’s what I had thought until now. However, and much to my reassurance, my counterpart continued: that since our first collaboration he had somewhat turned away from his conviction because he’d had experiences that had taught him otherwise, and yes, had also taught him better. And moreover, said my counterpart, I was an excellent person to have lunch with.

I again looked at him and thought: he’s right, it won’t be long until the setup of the committee for the next four years will be decided again. Assuming that the economy continues to have the same turbulent

developments as at the moment, the next works council election will be an important milestone.

So important in fact that it’s well worth thinking about how you’re perceived as an employer by the workforce.

We quickly agreed on that. After all, it takes some time for an employer to position itself credibly in the eyes of the workforce and with regard to co-determination, and especially in times when the pressure to transform is unceasing. In times when unpopular decisions have to be made to secure the company’s continued existence and competitiveness in the long run. Not to mention the increasingly populist

tendencies that are becoming more and more apparent in both the workforce and the works council. These are developments that contradict the aim of the employer to get the workers and works council together for the benefit of the company future. – It’s good that there are communication consultants who offer support in such situations.

My counterpart knows one.

Until the next Espresso!

Sincerely,