The U.S. Department of State does something pretty unique for a government agency.
Every few weeks, it holds a Q&A session on Twitter. For one hour, anyone can ask a question about passports and travel.
I have used it in the past and have been delighted. Here’s a screenshot of my conversation:
I received my answer in 14 minutes. There is no way I could have obtained a response this quickly by email or even by phone (ever tried to call a government agency with a question?).
It turns out that our employees also have a million questions about our E&C program. What is our policy on smoking in the workplace? Do we have a training module on the UKBA? Can internal audit show up unannounced?
They don’t always know who to call or email, or even feel comfortable doing so.
Which is why holding regular AMA sessions can be so beneficial for everyone. Employees get their questions answered and management learns what’s on their employees’ mind.
It’s as simple as holding a one-hour monthly teleconference.
If you already do something like this, please share your experience in the comment section below. If you don’t, give it a try and let us know how it went!
The Ethical Leader 