Open-Door Policy, Closed-Lip Reality

HBR reports that out of 7 indicators, the one most strongly correlated with 10-year returns is employees' comfort in speaking up, even when they have negative things to say. Corporate Executive Board study shows companies in the top quartile in openness of communication delivered an average total shareholder return of 7.9% over a 10-year period, compared with 2.1% at companies in other quartiles.