ATD, association for talent development

CTDO Magazine Article

Let's Be Clear

Content

Listen to three executives' perspectives on organizational transparency.

Listen to three executives' perspectives on organizational transparency.

By

Thu Jul 15 2021

Let's Be Clear
Loading...

Content

Listen to three executives’ perspectives on organizational transparency.

Listen to three executives’ perspectives on organizational transparency.

Content

Workplace transparency builds trust, especially during times of uncertainty, which everyone has experienced during the past 18 months. But what does transparency look like inside organizations?

Workplace transparency builds trust, especially during times of uncertainty, which everyone has experienced during the past 18 months. But what does transparency look like inside organizations?

Content

Are the expectations around transparency different for managers than for the individual contributors on their teams? What role does talent development have to play in organizational transparency?

Are the expectations around transparency different for managers than for the individual contributors on their teams? What role does talent development have to play in organizational transparency?

Content

CTDO recently asked three talent development executives for answers to those questions and their ideas and advice on how companies can be more transparent.

CTDO recently asked three talent development executives for answers to those questions and their ideas and advice on how companies can be more transparent.

Kevin Tamanini

Let's Be Clear-Kevin_Tamanini.jpg

Content

Kevin Tamanini is the director and head of consulting services for DDI’s US Operations.

Kevin Tamanini is the director and head of consulting services for DDI’s US Operations. 

Content

  

Content

Transparency is not a black-and-white topic, Tamanini says. But however your organization decides to define it, transparency boils down to what people are saying versus what they are doing and whether information is shared in a consistent and clear way.

Transparency is not a black-and-white topic, Tamanini says. But however your organization decides to define it, transparency boils down to what people are saying versus what they are doing and whether information is shared in a consistent and clear way.

Content

Is there clarity about expectations between managers and team members? Clarity about how people can advance in their careers? Clarity about the organization’s values? You need that before you can have transparency.

Is there clarity about expectations between managers and team members? Clarity about how people can advance in their careers? Clarity about the organization’s values? You need that before you can have transparency.

Laura Lee Gentry

Let's Be Clear-LauraLeeGentry_87a6365_highres.jpg

Content

Laura Lee Gentry is chief people officer at Applied Systems.

Laura Lee Gentry is chief people officer at Applied Systems.

Content

  

Content

She finds that although transparency has many facets, at its core it’s about culture. That means transparency must flow through leaders to their teams, from colleague to colleague and between the company and its customers. It embraces open and honest feedback and communication in all directions, and it lets clarity and connection be its North Star.

She finds that although transparency has many facets, at its core it’s about culture. That means transparency must flow through leaders to their teams, from colleague to colleague and between the company and its customers. It embraces open and honest feedback and communication in all directions, and it lets clarity and connection be its North Star.

Robert S. Brodo

Let's Be Clear-robert-brodo-head-shot.png

Content

Robert Brodo is president and CEO of Advantexe Learning Solutions.

Robert Brodo is president and CEO of Advantexe Learning Solutions.

Content

  

Content

He explains that transparency is all about communication, whether that is between managers and direct reports or the enterprise and individual contributors. Not only power but also performance are dependent on information, so it behooves leaders to share with employees at all levels the overall strategy as well as the details and decisions about how they plan to achieve organizational goals.

He explains that transparency is all about communication, whether that is between managers and direct reports or the enterprise and individual contributors. Not only power but also performance are dependent on information, so it behooves leaders to share with employees at all levels the overall strategy as well as the details and decisions about how they plan to achieve organizational goals.

Content

Read more from CTDO magazine : Essential talent development content for C-suite leaders.

Read more from CTDO magazine: Essential talent development content for C-suite leaders.

You've Reached ATD Member-only Content

Become an ATD member to continue

Already a member?Sign In


Copyright © 2026 ATD

ASTD changed its name to ATD to meet the growing needs of a dynamic, global profession.

Terms of UsePrivacy NoticeCookie Policy