Slide 1

Leadership & CommunicationWeek (2)Topic Objectives O U T L I N E

Understanding managerial communication Informal and Formal.Define communication.Differentiate between organisational and interpersonal communication.Discuss the types of communication.

2Importance of Organisational CommunicationMost managers spend 75-90% of their time in one of the four communication modes (writing, reading, speaking, listening).

Communicating is central to managing:To explain how goals are to be achieved and work is to be done.To gather good information listening, questioning and observing to uncover peoples feelings, thoughts, motivations, ideas and opinions.

Importance of Organisational Communication ( cont.)Poor communication causes more problems in groups, teams and organisations than any other issue.

First-line managers set the scene for the type of communication that will take place in their department and with other departments. This directly influences quality, output and morale.CommunicationCommunication is defined as the transferring and understanding of meaning.

5CommunicationThe importance of effective communication for a manager cannot be overemphasized because everything a manager does involves communication.Communication involves the transfer of meaning but for communication to be successful then the meaning needs to be imparted and understood.Effective communication is when the message sent is received and interpreted as was intended.Many people believe that good communication is when there is agreement instead of clarity of understanding. This is not always the case. I may understand very clearly what you say but I may totally disagree with you. Regardless of me holding a different view the communication has been effective because it was sent and received and clearly understood.Communication Defined

Communication FunctionsControl employee behaviour.Foster motivation for what is to be done.Provide a release for emotional expression.Provide information needed to make decisions.

Leadership and CommunicationEffective communication is an essential part of any successful team.

As the leader you are responsible for ensuring that all relevant information is distributed to team members.

Without effective communication there can be no leadership.Cont.As the leader of a team, some of the roles that you play are:coachmentorcounsellor

As a leader, the way that you communicate with your team will determine the effectiveness of your roles. The ability to send and receive clear messages is the key to effective communication.

Communication Effectively communicating to others is a complex process.

If it was simply a matter of delivering OUR message and the other person automatically understanding and agreeing, there would be few if any conflicts or misunderstandings around us.

Cont.There are many facets to effective communication. It is a complex process that involves a:Sender: the person creating the message

Receiver: the person that gets the message

Channel: the medium used to transmit the messageMessage: the information that is to be sharedFeedback: the receiver's response to the message Noise: any interference that could distort the message or feedback.

Elements of Communication

Cont.In addition to the elements of the communication process, you must also consider each person's:Self-conceptFamily and/or cultural backgroundLanguage skills and physical abilitiesAttitudes and valuesStatus or relationship to the other people in the communication

Any or all of these elements have the potential to influence the effectiveness of the communication. For example, if the receiver perceived that the communication is just another attempt to blame them for something that went wrong, they are not likely to become actively involved in the communication unless it is to defend themself.

Each party to the communication has a responsibility to ensure that a "shared or common meaning is achieved". Consider the following communication model:

Types of Organisational Communication

Some of the many ways we can communicate with others (and ourselves) at work are summarised below: Organisational communicationOrganisational communication can beformalInformal

Communication can flow:

downward laterally diagonally upward16ORGANISATIONAL COMMUNICATION A.Formal versus informal communication.1.Formal communication refers to communication that follows the official chain of command or is part of the communication required to do ones job. 2.Informal communication is organisational communication that is not defined by the organisations structural hierarchy. a.Informal communication systems permit employees to satisfy their needs for social interaction.b.Informal communication systems can improve an organisations performance by creating alternative, and frequently faster and more efficient, channels of communication. Formal versus informal communicationFormal communication refers to communication that follows the official chain of command or is part of the communication required to do ones job.

Informal communication is organisational communication that is not defined by the organisations structural hierarchy.

a.Informal communication systems permit employees to satisfy their needs for social interaction.

b.Informal communication systems can improve an organisations performance by creating alternative, and frequently faster and more efficient, channels of communication.Formal Communication Oral CommunicationAdvantages: Speed and feedback.Disadvantage: Distortion of the message.

Written CommunicationAdvantages: Tangible and verifiable.Disadvantages: Time consuming and lacks feedback.

Nonverbal CommunicationAdvantages: Supports other communications and provides observable expression of emotions and feelings.Disadvantage: Misperception of body language or gestures can influence receivers interpretation of message.

Formal Communication E-mailAdvantages: quickly written, sent, and stored; low cost for distribution.Disadvantages: information overload, lack of emotional content, cold and impersonal.IntranetA private organisation-wide information network.ExtranetAn information network connecting employees with external suppliers, customers, and strategic partners.VideoconferencingAn extension of an intranet or extranet that permits face-to-face virtual meetings via video links.Informal Communication: The GrapevineGrapevine CharacteristicsNot controlled by management.Perceived by most employees as being more believable and reliable than formal communications.Largely used to serve the self-interests of those who use it.Results from:Desire for information about important situationsUncertain conditionsConditions that cause anxiety

Three common communication networks and how they rate on effectiveness criteria

Copyright 2003 Pearson Education Australia21Figure 14.121a.The chain network represents communication flowing according to the formal chain of command, both downward and upward.b.The wheel network represents communication flowing between a clearly identifiable and strong leader and others in a work group or team. The leader serves as the hub through whom all communication passes.c.The all-channel network represents communication flowing freely among all members of a work team The communication processSenderMessageMediumReceiverEncodingFeedbackMessageDecoding

Noise Copyright 2003 Pearson Education Australia22Figure 14.222List 4 types of noise within various communication processes. (see slide 16)Methods for communicating interpersonallyThese include:

Face to faceTelephoneGroup meetingsFormal presentationsMemosPostal mailFax Employee publications

Bulletin boardsAudio + videotapesHot linesElectronic mailComputer conferencingVoice mailTeleconferencingVideoconferencing23Which types of messages work best with which method? Why?Evaluating communication methodsManagers have a wide variety of communication methods from which to choose. Evaluating the following areas will help decide:

FeedbackComplexity capacity Breadth potentialConfidentiality Encoding ease Decoding ease Time-space constraintCost Interpersonal warmthFormality ScanabilityTime of consumption

Copyright 2003 Pearson Education Australia2424Nonverbal communicationTransmission without words

Every oral communication is accompanied by a nonverbal messageNonverbal component usually carries the greatest impactVerbal intonation- emphasis someone gives to words or phrases that convey meaningBody language- gestures, facial expressions and other body movements that convey meaning2525Which sends the more powerful message, verbal or non-verbal communication?Non-verbal communicationHow we say something is usually more important than the words themselves.

Our tone of voice, gestures, movements, the way we stand and our facial expression all add to (or detract from) our words.

If your non-verbal communication does not agree with the verbal part of your message , most people will believe the body language over the words.

Your verbal and non-verbal communication needs to be congruent (ie. say the same thing). FilteringSelective perceptionEmotionsLanguageNonverbal cuesDefensivenessInformation overloadNational cultureBarriers to effective communication27Barriers to effective communication The material on the CTR covers both the barriers to effective communication and common strategies for overcoming communication barriers.Barriers to effective communicationFiltering is the deliberate manipulation of information to make it appear more favourable to the receiver. A common communication problem for organisations is that filtering increases as information goes up the vertical structure. Those in most need of good communication are least likely to get it.Selective perception Receiver tend to process information selectively on the basis of their needs, motivations, experience, and background. They also tend to project their own interests and expectations on to the message.Emotions How we feel about a message, its style or content, as well as how we feel generally upon reception can influence decoding and understanding.Language Words mean different things to different people. Agreement on denotative and connotative meaning should not be taken for granted.Nonverbal cues When nonverbal and verbal communication are inconsistent, receivers become confused. Under those circumstances, most people tend to believe the nonverbal cues as conveying the real meaning.Overcoming the barriersUse feedback Managers should plan and use a feedback loop in their message formation process to help ensure better communication.Simplify language To minimise possible, different meanings choose simple words and words most familiar to the receiver.Listen actively Concentrate on processing messages without evaluation or interpretation.Constrain emotions Messages can elicit emotional reactions and be affected by existing emotional states. Watch nonverbal cues Receivers will attend to discrepant nonverbal messages. Senders should work hard to align verbal and nonverbal cues.These barriers are also called noise.Communication Barriers

filteringA senders manipulation of information so that it will be seen more favourably by the receiver.Appropriate Communication TechniquesAsk for feedbackOffer feedbackThink it through firstRepeat, repeat, repeatUse empathySelect the location

The six Cs of communication

Is it clear?Is it complete?Is it concise?Is it concrete?Is it correct?Is it courteous?

Overcoming barriers to effective interpersonal communicationSolutionsUse feedbackSimplify languageListen activelyConstrain emotionsWatch nonverbals30Active listeningExhibit affirmationAvoid distracting actionsAsk questionsParaphraseAvoid interruptingDont over talkSmooth transitionsMake eye contactAll help developeffectiveactivelisteningskills31Active listening

Four essential of active listeningthe active listener must listen with: (1) intensity; (2) empathy; (3) acceptance; (4) willingness to take responsibility for completeness.Developing effective active learning skillsMake eye contact Looking at the speaker focuses your attention and encourages the speaker.Exhibit affirmative nods and appropriate facial expressions Reacting nonverbally to the speaker affirms that you are paying attention and helps motivate them to continue.Avoid distracting actions or gestures Guard against physical movements that indicate your attention is somewhere else.Ask questions This behaviour provides opportunities for clarification, ensures understanding, and lets the speaker know you are processing the information.Paraphrase Restating in your own words what the speaker has said helps ensure effective understanding and lets the speaker know you are really considering what s/he is saying.Avoid interrupting the speaker Speakers appreciate being respected. Dont second-guess what they might say or disrupt their flow of information.Dont over talk Dont try to fill a silence or hog the floor. Communication is a deliberative exchange. Too much talking interferes with consideration of the message.Make smooth transitions between the roles of speaker and listener By concentrating on the speaker, you can help participants take on and relinquish the roles of speaker and listener in turns.Active listening is a key skill, a basis for all the others.

Feedback skillsDevelopingeffective feedback skillsWell-timedSpecificControlGoal-orientedImpersonalUnderstanding32Feedback skills

Positive versus negative feedbackPositive feedback is more readily and accurately perceived than negative feedback. Managers must of course provide both positive and negative feedback to subordinates. The key to providing effective negative feedback is to provide constructive criticism to improve performance in a non-threatening manner.Developing effective feedback skillsFocus on specific behaviours Feedback should be specific rather than general. Feedback should also be directed at concrete actions not ideas or attitudes.Keep feedback impersonal Be descriptive rather than judgmental. Keep feedback job-related rather than person or trait related.Keep feedback goal-oriented Never forget the purpose of feedback to accomplish something specific. Design and implement feedback to reach a positive goal.Make feedback well-timed Feedback is most effective when it is in close time proximity to the activity or behaviour it relates to. This is particularly true when the feedback is designed to change a behaviour or action.Ensure understanding Keep feedback concise and complete to facilitate effective transmission, reception, and understanding.Direct negative feedback toward behaviour that the recipient can control Feedback that relates to things beyond the receivers control create frustration and damage the communication process further. Concentrate feedback on information that the receiver can use to make a difference in performance.Someone you know has just written a poem and it is very weak, trite, soppy, and childish. They request feedback from you on their effort. What would you say? How would you deliver effective feedback?Body LanguageS The way we Sit, Stand or use SpaceO Open up

C Centre your attentionL Lean slightly forwardE Make Eye contactA Reflect the others language, body, posture, voiceR - Reflect the others language, body posture, voice