The thing about the mindset of a group is that it can change in an instant because our mindset is part emotional. It's an attitude – energy – mood that is influenced by our perceptions, assumptions, experiences and values. As you probably have experienced it only takes one nervous skeptic to bring down a whole team. And the grapevine is extremely powerful. Maybe you have managers at your company that say: "I don't want my people to spend time worrying about this. I want them focused on getting things done". Well the point is that sensation and suffering sells, and information travels fast and furious inside an organization. People care, so they spend time trying to understand what's going on.

Our experience is that when you don't take time to help people make sense of what is going on, they will waste more time and make up worse assumptions. In the long run it's worth your time to manage perceptions and mindset, because they affect motivation and motivation affects productivity.

• What is the latest news in your grapevine?
• What questions and frustrations are your people venting about behind closed doors?
• What are you doing to make sure the "right" messages are passed through your grapevine?

The goal is to influence their thinking – to help them view what's going on from a productive perspective and to support your approach. This is an art that effective leaders master. They think of on-going management of perceptions as health insurance for the future. Managing perceptions is a huge part of building trust. When you manage perceptions well, people stay with you longer, because you've built up that mutual commitment thing. When you take time to care about them, they take time to care about your company.

We work with your executives and managers to identify and manage current perceptions within your organization. It's a hands-on and very practical approach. We also help with messaging around major events and change initiatives.