Dear Colleagues:

When we began our vision and values process more than a year ago, we promised employees an opportunity to offer input in developing plans to improve our workplace. Today, we take a big step in that process - launching MI 360 - a process that will give employees the opportunity to give feedback to their supervisors.

I am personally inviting you to join me in fully utilizing MI 360, a leadership development tool designed to collect information on how management style and behavior are being perceived by employees. For the first time, we're giving employees an opportunity to offer input to their supervisors in a structured, organized way to help make our workplaces better, to encourage open communication, and to foster continuous leadership development.

The MI 360 was developed with active input from dozens of employees representing every state department, and it is tied directly to the four shared values from Vision and Values:

• Integrity
• Excellence
• Teamwork
• Inclusion

We are beginning with a pilot program in four state agencies next month - Information Technology, Management and Budget, Civil Rights, and Michigan State Police. Once the pilot program has been completed, we plan to offer the MI 360 to departments statewide.

You will receive additional information with details about the MI 360 survey process from your department director. In the meantime, I invite you to visit the MI 360 Web site at http://connect.michigan.gov/portal/site/ogwd/index.jsp to become familiar with the initiative.

As I've said before, I challenge you to accept this invitation to empower yourselves to become the change you want to see in your workplace. You are the heart of this exceptional organization . . . and its future.

Remember, MI 360 is intended to build strengths, improve communication, and to allow us to become stronger, more cohesive teams within our own workplaces and throughout state government . . . a Great Place to do Great Work.