Transparency is Vital to Workplace Culture and Client Relationships
Haskell Chairman, CEO and President Jim O’Leary talks with team members during one of the Executive Leadership Team’s 15 stops during Team Talks 2024.

October 17, 2024

Transparency is Vital to Workplace Culture and Client Relationships

Learn how open communication builds trust and engages employees and how Haskell fosters an environment of collaboration and growth.

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Over the course of two weeks in September, Haskell’s Executive Leadership Team (ELT) members traveled more than 49,000 miles – twice the circumference of the globe – for Team Talks, their annual outreach to visit and connect with members of the company’s more than 2,400-plus workforce.

Further, beginning in 2023, ELT invited all team members – each an employee-owner – to attend Haskell’s Quarterly Operations (Ops) meetings and receive comprehensive updates from across the enterprise. Previously, Ops had been limited to about 160 senior leaders.

Transparency is crucial in fostering an excellent workplace culture, and Haskell’s leadership walks the walk by talking the talk directly and frequently with everyone in the organization.


Today is Day 4 of Construction Inclusion Week 2024, an industry-wide effort to celebrate and amplify awareness of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and to spearhead change. Haskell is proud to sponsor Construction Inclusion Week at the Ambassador level and to participate by highlighting each day’s theme. Today’s theme is Workplace Culture.

“It’s everyone’s responsibility to communicate openly and honestly,” said Jim O’Leary, Haskell’s Chairman, CEO and President. “Transparency, applied correctly, unlocks untapped potential.”

Indeed, research shows that when companies openly share information and encourage employees to do the same, it creates an environment of mutual trust and accountability. A transparent culture is a powerful tool for attracting and retaining top talent, resulting in higher levels of employee engagement and advocacy. Haskell’s engagement rate, measured by the annual Gallup Q12 survey, is 9.33. That is more than double the industry average of 4.0.

Gallup reports that organizations that prioritize transparent communication report 21% higher profitability and 70% fewer safety incidents.

“Getting everyone in sync requires trust. You can’t expect trust without putting in the work and having open dialogues with your people,” said Vice President and Food Market Leader Jay Floren, who heads Haskell’s Dallas office. “We need to create an environment where people can express themselves clearly and honestly.”

Transparency also shapes external relationships, too. Companies seek partners they can trust, and Haskell’s continuously collaborative method of integrated delivery bears out the Construction Management Association of America’s finding that consistent updates prevent misunderstandings and improve client relations, leading to repeat business and higher ROI. Eighty percent of Haskell’s business comes from repeat customers.

In today's data-driven world, more information is available more readily than ever. Digital tools promote communication but also contribute to information overload. A McKinsey study found that excessive updates, such as constant email notifications, unnecessary status reports, or frequent unstructured meetings, can make it harder for employees to focus on key tasks and remain efficient. The World Health Organization has warned that mismanaged workplace communication can increase anxiety and reduce concentration.

“You could spend your days consuming information and content and never run out,” said Haskell VP and Segment Market Leader Charlie Rocheleau. “Good, honest communication is important, but there has to be a limit. “There’s an extreme to everything, and transparency is no exception. You need discernment in deciding what to share and why.”

The key is consistently sharing information that is relevant and helpful.

“When we are transparent with our teams (both Haskell and Client), it builds a relationship and trust,” said Bela Jacobson, VP of Automated Manufacturing Systems. “This basis of a relationship is crucial when difficult conversations need to take place.”

The best leaders strive to manage the flow of information while prioritizing well-being alongside company success. Transparency should empower, ensuring clear, strategic communication that fosters trust and productivity without confusion. Respecting personal boundaries is a vital part of finding balance.

"It’s not just about being open for the sake of it,” Jacobson said. “We must ensure we’re sharing the right things to empower both employees and clients. You find that balance through respectful dialogue and curiosity. It’s always a good idea to ask what someone’s expectations are so you can align and work together effectively.”

Haskell is hiring! Explore the many options available to join a growing company where the Core Values of Team, Excellence, Service and Trust inspire everything we do.

Haskell delivers $2± billion annually in Architecture, Engineering, Construction (AEC) and Consulting solutions to assure certainty of outcome for complex capital projects worldwide. Haskell is a global, fully integrated, single-source design-build and EPC firm with over 2,400 highly specialized, in-house design, construction and administrative professionals across industrial and commercial markets. With 25+ office locations around the globe, Haskell is a trusted partner for global and emerging clients.

Promoting and expanding diversity and inclusion is a strategic pillar of Haskell’s long-term vision and is foundational to creating a team member experience of significance, success and satisfaction. Haskell Together is our intentional and consistent initiative to promote open dialogue and bring about positive change.

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