Do they really not have "Gossipers"?

As part of the analysis of the business, I returned yet again to be a type of "secret shopper".  By that I mean, I had casual conversations with employees in the parking lots, the gift shop, in the fields and prompted some difficult conversations.  I talked about the economy, working conditions, the "owners", and I could not find a gossiper in the group. I even went as far as speaking to a person I know as an employee who would trust me that I would not provide evidence of who they were.....but nothing, no negative experiences or stories.  Can an organization really have a satisfied group of employees who have such a strong positive and productive working relationship with nothing negative to say?  (Only terrific stories about the farm, the family, the tradition and the quality.)

The Vineyard Experience

As I have ventured out to the vineyard organization and met with several of the personnel there, I can't say enough that this experience has been both rewarding and enlightening.  Both the business owner and I have ben able to remind each other of things we want to do as organizational leaders better our own organization. 

We have come away with teaching each other a bit of what we do and how there are similarities and differences. This organization would like us to provide them feedback of what we have found out about their company, if what they said is a shared meaning throughout and if there are any ideas that we would like to share to better the organization.  I do not want to give it away, so I shall not to tell you the common elements of this organization and the educational system, but I will share with you that policies, unions and too many rules, can alter what we could possibly be doing in education.  I hope you have enjoyed the various blogs as everything relates, OD and leadership development,  regardless if it is directly related to a specific assignment.