Barnes Group Reviews

Pros

Getting out in meeting the client face to face. Having the ability to make decisions in the field with my reps and clients.

Cons

Internal processes are slow, and cumbersome for pricing adjustments, response times from inside departments is too long for a client or manager needing support.

Advice to Senior Management

Listen to the front line managers more often for really honest feedback. Our seasoned reps need to be seen as a greater value and recognized by senior management in front of their local peer group. Please and thank you needs to be utilized more often as a motivator. STR program is great, however over-accelerated.

Pros

Finally a growing company again
Deep pocket diversified economic stability
Continuous improvement philosophy
Aggressive compensation
Accelerated training programs
Guided by highly ethical moral compass

Cons

The perpetual change here can be a downer. Innovators are not given the appropriate platform to contribute. Too much outsourcing and external consulting has left the true subject-matter experts to feel a bit slighted by the 3rd party and their own company.

Advice to Senior Management

I would like to see mid-level manager held accountable for poor performance. Bigger investments need made in the human infrastructure of the organization in addition to systems and off-the shelf solutions.

Pros

Flexibility, universal product, brand recognition.

Cons

In constant change; I don't recognize the company I interviewed with. Mid-level management lacks knowledge or motivation to support their employees.

Advice to Senior Management

Re-vamp mid level management, create REAL checks and balances. Create open door policy that allows employees to receive support, receive real-time responses if they cannot receive it from their immediate manager. Open door policy would allow growth instead of being tagged as trouble maker.

Pros

You get a paycheck every month.

Cons

Leaders in organization do not believe in the employees' development or well-being. They are more concerned about their image and career.

Advice to Senior Management

Emotional intelligence is something you have to actually believe in and care about. Just saying the words and reading about it doesn't make it real. Your employees are your assets...start treating them as they are assets rather than slaves.

Pros

Great location, good people. Lean initiatives have been hard for many to adapt to, but short term discomfort will lead to long term good. Company is small enought that people know each other on a personal level and can work well together. There is good communication between teams and departments in HQ.

Cons

Tough economy measns more work for everyone, burn out is high. The upper management spends to much time in meetings, and not enough time offering visible inspiring leadership. It always amazed me that people that should be there to suppport their teams, would spend entire weeks never being available.

Advice to Senior Management

Stop meeting and start doing. There is not enough leadership by example.

Pros

Good bonuses and flexible work times, summer hours are great. The food used to be good, but they got rid of that benefit. The parking lot is small so even if it raining, you don't get too wet.

Cons

The CEO has an agenda and no people skills. Most of the senior management hate each other and go to great pains to stick it to one of their peers subordinates. The office environment is pins and needles all the time. Greg likes to walk around and think all the time, but people view it as his inability to connect with anyone as his greatess problem.

Advice to Senior Management

Watch your back because Greg is not trustworthy. He is smart, but the best leaders need more than horsepower to be successful.