CIO of Direct Energy shares insights on how to get feedback from new staffers...directly. Want to find out what new employees think of your IT department? Just ask them, says Direct Energy CIO Kumud Kalia. Related on CIO.com End Users Are Not Your Customers How to Turn Your Employees Into Leaders Kalia takes 20 minutes to meet with all the people he’s hired in the past 90 days to ask them for their observations while they’re still fresh. It’s a trick he picked up from executives at a previous company and implemented once he entered the C suite. Kalia likes to use this informal group meeting to get real-time feedback on the company’s on-boarding process, to find out what the newest employees think of the work environment, and ask them how they’ve interacted thus far with colleagues, business partners and customers. He also likes to pick their brains about how Direct Energy compares to other companies. “This is good for breaking down old myths that support grass-is-greener kind of views [that can crop up],” says Kalia. “We can also get some insight into best practices we haven’t considered.” This kind of information has a short shelf life; employees forget their early experiences once they’re settled. New employees obviously won’t want to be too harsh, “but it is possible to get at the truth without overt criticism of coworkers [or] the company,” says Kalia. He’s let the practice slide as his time has become tight, but he intends to reintroduce it this year. “I’ve noticed a few new faces around and think it’s a little sad that I don’t recognize everyone,” he says. “This will help connect me to new staff. It’s important that employees have met with their department head and feel like they have a relationship.” Related content brandpost Sponsored by Palo Alto Networks Operational technology systems require a robust Zero Trust strategy in 2024 Zero Trust provides a foundation for creating a stronger security posture in 2024. By Navneet Singh, vice president of marketing, network security, Palo Alto Networks Dec 05, 2023 6 mins Security brandpost Sponsored by AWS in collaboration with IBM How digital twin technology is changing complex industrial processes forever As the use cases for digital twins proliferate, it is becoming clear that data-driven enterprises with a track record of innovation stand the best chance of success. By Laura McEwan Dec 05, 2023 4 mins Digital Transformation brandpost Sponsored by AWS in collaboration with IBM Why modernising applications needs to be a ‘must’ for businesses seeking growth Around one-third of enterprises are spending heavily on application modernisation and aiming for cloud native status. The implications for corporate culture, structure and priorities will be profound. By Laura McEwan Dec 05, 2023 5 mins Digital Transformation opinion 11 ways to reduce your IT costs now Reorienting IT’s budget toward future opportunities is a big reason why CIOs should review their IT portfolios with an eye toward curbing unnecessary spending and realizing maximum value from every IT investment. By Stephanie Overby Dec 05, 2023 11 mins Budget Cloud Management IT Governance Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe