Title:Managerial communication: the link between frontline leadership and organizational performance
Author(s):Zia Ahmed, Frank Shields, Rayondraous White and Jessica Wilbert
Source:Journal of Organizational Culture, Communications and Conflict. 14.1 (Jan. 2010): p107. From General OneFile.
Document Type:Essay
Copyright:COPYRIGHT 2010 Jordan Whitney Enterprises, Inc.
Abstract:
Frontline managers (FMs) are able to establish a positive rapport with their staff through the use of effective communication. Managerial communication (MC) is one mechanism that can assist FMs with cultivating an environment of mutual respect and high productivity, thus, achieving organizational goals and objectives. In this study, the related literature is reviewed. The emergent theme throughout the research conducted is that, managerial communication (MC) is one of the most important tools that FMs can utilize to influence goodwill among employees. MC assists in crafting healthier relations between FMs and their employees and the entire organization ultimately benefits from this relationship. We make a series of recommendations for FMs, who seek to establish and retain good relations with their staff.
Full Text:
INTRODUCTION
Employees make significant contributions to the overall success of an organization, and their contributions are valuable in both public and private entities. Research shows that organizational performance markedly improves when communication is permitted to flow uninterrupted and employees are empowered, provided incentives, and given the necessary resources to perform at an optimal level. Managers at the technical core of an organization are obligated to develop good working relations with their staff by providing them with a comfortable work environment and swiftly resolving issues that could possible hinder performance. In addition, FMs play a pivotal role in inspiring their subordinates to maximize efficiency and enhance productivity. The spirit of teamwork among employees correlates with the inspirational leadership role of management. FMs should lead and motivate their staff to perform at a level that inspires them to achieve the goals and objectives set forth by the organization. A general definition of leadership is the ability to motivate subordinates to do their jobs willingly, without coercion or harm to themselves or to others. The practice of effective communication is a leadership attribute that facilitates FMs in becoming the prospective leaders of their organizations. In this paper, we view communication from a transmission perspective--meaning, communication can be seen as a linear relationship between a source and a receiver.
Bell and Martin (2008, p. 130) define managerial communication as "the downward, horizontal, or upward exchange of information and transmission of meaning through informal or formal channels that enables managers to achieve their goals." The performance of visionary organizations is linked to their FMs' efficient and effective use of communication, which inculcates confidence in employees. It is imperative that FMs in organizations, both large and small, understand the significance of establishing meaningful relationships with their employees. Moreover, beneficial relationships can be established through achieving organizational goals, providing performance feedback, and engaging in formal and informal communication networks. Non-supervisory employees are the face of modern organizations; therefore, involving them in the decision making process is one form of empowerment that is both motivating and inclusive. Offering incentives and adhering to a fair reward system positively contribute to an increase in employee morale and to the organization's bottom line. Our research is focused on the role of communication as an energetic process used to motivate and engage employees in the workplace environment. We explore frontline leadership through the communication process.
FMs (persons of influential status operating at the technical core of organizational subsystems) seek this type of knowledge. FMs, both in the public and private sectors, will find this essay beneficial if their goal is to establish for a culture conducive to achieving both long-term as well as short-term objectives. The importance of the FM's role has to be valued by top management in order for organizations to create and maintain a competitive advantage in this global business landscape. They play a pivotal role in motivating employees through the effective use of leadership and managerial communication. The top echelons of any organization should bestow confidence in their FMs by clearly communicating the vision, core ideology, and giving them leeway to affect change. The challenge in many companies is that top management often fail to provide FMs with advanced training needed to perfect their leadership and interpersonal skills. The consequence of failing to do so is that the cycle inadequate leadership and ineffective communication is repeated when FMs are given the opportunity to lead their organizations.
PROBLEMS IN PRACTICE
Leading and motivating employees to perform at a level that achieves organizational objectives is primarily tied to MC. Many leaders/managers are not successful due to their authoritative leadership styles, resulting in increased communication gap with their employees. Such leaders are unable to earn the respect and loyalty of their employees, who simply follow their orders because of their authority. Accordingly, there is a greater possibility of turnover and absenteeism by the valuable workforce.
Barnard (1968) explained that the decision as to whether an order has authority or not lies with the person to whom it is addressed, and does not reside in the persons of authority. In order to arrest this trend, managers should change their authoritative mindsets and make a commitment to build strong working relationships with employees by bridging the communication gap and building an environment of trust. This is accomplished by devising clear and concise communication policies, strategies, and processes, as evident in the literature.
RELATED LITERATURE
The effective use of MC within organizational subsystems is a fundamental component that must be present in order for an organization to create and sustain a competitive advantage. Success, irrespective of an organization's size or the products/ services it provides, is intangible when FMs and employees fail to work collaboratively. Not for profit organizations are just as, if not more committed than for profit organizations, to ensuring that the mission and objectives set forth are carried out. Brewer's (2005) research proves that in federal agencies FMs' supervisors are more optimistic and positive than non-supervisors. A lack of optimism amongst employees in nonsupervisory positions can have detrimental effects on an organization's performance, and can ultimately lead to its demise. Although managers significantly influence organizational performance, Bal (2008) believes that performance improvements are accomplished by the efforts of the team itself and have very little to do with the management team's efforts. In other words, employees are the major players in many facets of organizational success; therefore, the solicitation of their knowledge and feedback is essential when evaluating the successes, failures, and future aspirations of the organization.
The flow of smooth information without barriers is a critical element of effective MC. High-performing, well-respected organizations are built on the principle of sharing information freely and timely. Beslin and Reddin (2004) shared some of the best practices from CEOs and senior HR executives, which included building trust among employees and managers within all tiers of the organizational structure. Trust can only be established and sustained if information is permitted to flow uninterrupted, regardless of the chosen channel. Employees that have a positive relationship with their supervisors feel obligated to reciprocate hard work and dedication to their respective organizations. As a result, employees have a high regard for the organization and its stakeholders, which is evident in the quality of their work and their overall commitment.
THE KEY ROLES OF LEADERSHIP
Leadership quality is one of the greatest virtues of management. Managers create the vision for their organizations and are responsible for implementing strategies to ensure that targets and objectives are met. A successful organization values the affirmative roles of its leaders and provides a work environment, where leaders can perfect their leadership skills. Leadership demands a lot of hard work, effort, training, education, willpower, integrity, persistence, responsibility, decisiveness, and above all, effective communication skills. When you lead a corporation, you accept all the implications of that trust (Hindery, 2005); therefore, the organizations should focus on leadership development through such techniques as on the job training, mentoring, teaching, and so forth.
Education, offered by colleges and universities, provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in their careers. Such formal education, in its current form, is not enough to provide the skills, attitudes, and behaviors considered to be essential for the leaders of the twenty-first century. The organization needs to devise a unique and focused training program for employees, keeping in view its current and future requirements (Mathews & Edwards, 2005). Such endeavors facilitate in developing visionary leaders.
Leaders have distinct visions, values, and standards, which allow them to manage their organization with a great level of comfort and confidence. It is not only obligatory for an organization to have a realistic vision, but it must be communicated effectively to all employees for purposes of achieving growth and profitabi
Title:Managerial communication: the link between frontline leadership and organizational performance
Author(s):Zia Ahmed, Frank Shields, Rayondraous White and Jessica Wilbert
Source:Journal of Organizational Culture, Communications and Conflict. 14.1 (Jan. 2010): p107. From General OneFile.
Document Type:Essay
Copyright:COPYRIGHT 2010 Jordan Whitney Enterprises, Inc.
Abstract:
Frontline managers (FMs) are able to establish a positive rapport with their staff through the use of effective communication. Managerial communication (MC) is one mechanism that can assist FMs with cultivating an environment of mutual respect and high productivity, thus, achieving organizational goals and objectives. In this study, the related literature is reviewed. The emergent theme throughout the research conducted is that, managerial communication (MC) is one of the most important tools that FMs can utilize to influence goodwill among employees. MC assists in crafting healthier relations between FMs and their employees and the entire organization ultimately benefits from this relationship. We make a series of recommendations for FMs, who seek to establish and retain good relations with their staff.
Full Text:
INTRODUCTION
Employees make significant contributions to the overall success of an organization, and their contributions are valuable in both public and private entities. Research shows that organizational performance markedly improves when communication is permitted to flow uninterrupted and employees are empowered, provided incentives, and given the necessary resources to perform at an optimal level. Managers at the technical core of an organization are obligated to develop good working relations with their staff by providing them with a comfortable work environment and swiftly resolving issues that could possible hinder performance. In addition, FMs play a pivotal role in inspiring their subordinates to maximize efficiency and enhance productivity. The spirit of teamwork among employees correlates with the inspirational leadership role of management. FMs should lead and motivate their staff to perform at a level that inspires them to achieve the goals and objectives set forth by the organization. A general definition of leadership is the ability to motivate subordinates to do their jobs willingly, without coercion or harm to themselves or to others. The practice of effective communication is a leadership attribute that facilitates FMs in becoming the prospective leaders of their organizations. In this paper, we view communication from a transmission perspective--meaning, communication can be seen as a linear relationship between a source and a receiver.
Bell and Martin (2008, p. 130) define managerial communication as "the downward, horizontal, or upward exchange of information and transmission of meaning through informal or formal channels that enables managers to achieve their goals." The performance of visionary organizations is linked to their FMs' efficient and effective use of communication, which inculcates confidence in employees. It is imperative that FMs in organizations, both large and small, understand the significance of establishing meaningful relationships with their employees. Moreover, beneficial relationships can be established through achieving organizational goals, providing performance feedback, and engaging in formal and informal communication networks. Non-supervisory employees are the face of modern organizations; therefore, involving them in the decision making process is one form of empowerment that is both motivating and inclusive. Offering incentives and adhering to a fair reward system positively contribute to an increase in employee morale and to the organization's bottom line. Our research is focused on the role of communication as an energetic process used to motivate and engage employees in the workplace environment. We explore frontline leadership through the communication process.
FMs (persons of influential status operating at the technical core of organizational subsystems) seek this type of knowledge. FMs, both in the public and private sectors, will find this essay beneficial if their goal is to establish for a culture conducive to achieving both long-term as well as short-term objectives. The importance of the FM's role has to be valued by top management in order for organizations to create and maintain a competitive advantage in this global business landscape. They play a pivotal role in motivating employees through the effective use of leadership and managerial communication. The top echelons of any organization should bestow confidence in their FMs by clearly communicating the vision, core ideology, and giving them leeway to affect change. The challenge in many companies is that top management often fail to provide FMs with advanced training needed to perfect their leadership and interpersonal skills. The consequence of failing to do so is that the cycle inadequate leadership and ineffective communication is repeated when FMs are given the opportunity to lead their organizations.
PROBLEMS IN PRACTICE
Leading and motivating employees to perform at a level that achieves organizational objectives is primarily tied to MC. Many leaders/managers are not successful due to their authoritative leadership styles, resulting in increased communication gap with their employees. Such leaders are unable to earn the respect and loyalty of their employees, who simply follow their orders because of their authority. Accordingly, there is a greater possibility of turnover and absenteeism by the valuable workforce.
Barnard (1968) explained that the decision as to whether an order has authority or not lies with the person to whom it is addressed, and does not reside in the persons of authority. In order to arrest this trend, managers should change their authoritative mindsets and make a commitment to build strong working relationships with employees by bridging the communication gap and building an environment of trust. This is accomplished by devising clear and concise communication policies, strategies, and processes, as evident in the literature.
RELATED LITERATURE
The effective use of MC within organizational subsystems is a fundamental component that must be present in order for an organization to create and sustain a competitive advantage. Success, irrespective of an organization's size or the products/ services it provides, is intangible when FMs and employees fail to work collaboratively. Not for profit organizations are just as, if not more committed than for profit organizations, to ensuring that the mission and objectives set forth are carried out. Brewer's (2005) research proves that in federal agencies FMs' supervisors are more optimistic and positive than non-supervisors. A lack of optimism amongst employees in nonsupervisory positions can have detrimental effects on an organization's performance, and can ultimately lead to its demise. Although managers significantly influence organizational performance, Bal (2008) believes that performance improvements are accomplished by the efforts of the team itself and have very little to do with the management team's efforts. In other words, employees are the major players in many facets of organizational success; therefore, the solicitation of their knowledge and feedback is essential when evaluating the successes, failures, and future aspirations of the organization.
The flow of smooth information without barriers is a critical element of effective MC. High-performing, well-respected organizations are built on the principle of sharing information freely and timely. Beslin and Reddin (2004) shared some of the best practices from CEOs and senior HR executives, which included building trust among employees and managers within all tiers of the organizational structure. Trust can only be established and sustained if information is permitted to flow uninterrupted, regardless of the chosen channel. Employees that have a positive relationship with their supervisors feel obligated to reciprocate hard work and dedication to their respective organizations. As a result, employees have a high regard for the organization and its stakeholders, which is evident in the quality of their work and their overall commitment.
THE KEY ROLES OF LEADERSHIP
Leadership quality is one of the greatest virtues of management. Managers create the vision for their organizations and are responsible for implementing strategies to ensure that targets and objectives are met. A successful organization values the affirmative roles of its leaders and provides a work environment, where leaders can perfect their leadership skills. Leadership demands a lot of hard work, effort, training, education, willpower, integrity, persistence, responsibility, decisiveness, and above all, effective communication skills. When you lead a corporation, you accept all the implications of that trust (Hindery, 2005); therefore, the organizations should focus on leadership development through such techniques as on the job training, mentoring, teaching, and so forth.
Education, offered by colleges and universities, provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in their careers. Such formal education, in its current form, is not enough to provide the skills, attitudes, and behaviors considered to be essential for the leaders of the twenty-first century. The organization needs to devise a unique and focused training program for employees, keeping in view its current and future requirements (Mathews & Edwards, 2005). Such endeavors facilitate in developing visionary leaders.
Leaders have distinct visions, values, and standards, which allow them to manage their organization with a great level of comfort and confidence. It is not only obligatory for an organization to have a realistic vision, but it must be communicated effectively to all employees for purposes of achieving growth and profitabi
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