Within Red Hat’s open culture, the organizational structure can sometimes feel quite flat. It’s true that we value ideas more than titles or tenure, but there are still some messages that are applicable only to people managers. When communicating with managers, there are some special considerations to keep in mind to ensure you’re getting the most out of your efforts.

The first thing to consider is why you’d want to communicate exclusively to people managers. Often this is a question of influence.

• With the volume of information associates are exposed to, influence can often be the difference between a communication that is acted on and one that goes unnoticed.

• One effective way to increase the visibility of your communication is by engaging leaders and borrowing a bit of their influence.

• Often managers can cascade a message to their teams or reinforce key points at team meetings. This can be a great way to give your communication a boost.

  • When asking managers to cascade a message, use language that plays up the collaborative relationship between Red Hatters and their leadership.It’s a partnership that enables us to all succeed together.

Even if you’re not looking for help from managers to influence Red Hatters, there still may be practical reasons to give them early notification that a message is going out.

• For many Red Hatters, their manager will be the first person they come to when they have questions or need guidance.

  • Providing information to managers ahead of a broad release allows them to prepare for questions and makes the process smoother for everyone.

• If your message to managers is only information with no action required on their part, be sure to say so at the beginning.

Once you’ve got a good strategy for why you’re targeting managers with your message, it’s time to think about how you should tailor your communication to that audience.

• Formal communications to managers are direct and simple. In many other Red Hat communications we may be more playful and fun as a way to engage our audience, but communications to managers are actionable and concise.

  • When communicating to this audience, keep a few key points in mind to make your message as effective as possible:

    • Make your point directly.

      • ​Leaders get a lot of email. Don’t make them dig for your core message.

      • Keep language clear and concise.

      • It’s best to provide all of the basic information and required actions within the first 3 sentences.

      • Be clear about expectations, necessary context, and any actions managers are encouraged to take.

    • Avoid using "us versus them" language.

      • ​It‘s important to empower managers without being divisive.

      • Remember that the relationship between managers and associates is a partnership, not a 1-way flow of assignments and information.

    • Be sensitive to being too prescriptive about what managers should be doing.

      • ​Avoid using "should" or "required" in language, unless related to health and safety.

      • Balance your messaging between being directive about helpful actions managers should take versus telling them what to do.