A new era of corporate conversation

Long-held assumptions about corporate communication and hierarchy are breaking down. In the coming years, the savviest leaders will tap into the spirit and tools of openness from social media to build may be called conversational firms. Conversational firms differ from conventional bureaucratic ones by having a far more open communication environment. Executives use multiple platforms to share information with the entire workforce. They encourage employees to speak up, ask questions, and share ideas and opinions. They saturate the workplace with digital tools and physical spaces designed to encourage dialogue. The result is an ongoing conversation that transcends the formal hierarchical structure. Forward-thinking leaders are already managing their organizations this way. Doing it right is hard, though. There are challenges to creating conversational companies. Leaders willing to invest in truly open dialogue with their workforce will be well positioned to face and shape the ever-evolving future.