BUS3041 Week 1 Disc

Principles of Communication

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Principles of communication refer to those elements of communication that are consistent and

present across cultures and over time. This does not mean they do not change from one culture to

another, but that the element is present in some form or another. Elements include:

             Complexity – there is nothing simple about communicating with others.              Circular – communication does not just travel in one direction.

             Risky – once it is out there, it is irreversible.

             Continuous – it never ends; feedback builds up and can go on forever

             Full of Change – is dynamic, with back and forth momentum

             Impossible to Replicate – once sent, a message cannot be repeated. Even if you speak the exact

same words to try to clarify the message, it will not match

             the original message.

How do the elements of communication apply to managers in leadership roles? Managers must

communicate with a wider variety of constituents and stakeholders than line staff or lower-level

workers do. Some of those with whom managers must communicate include:

Shareholders

Board of directors

Employees; direct subordinates and those not directly subordinate to you

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Superiors

Colleagues at your status level in the �rm

Supplier of goods to the �rm

Banks, lawyers, and associations to which the �rm belongs

Customers

Competitors

Job applicants

Regulators within the industry

Each of these stakeholders requires different communication strategies on the part of the manager.

The type of relationship the manager has with each of these parties varies from:

Formal—with your supervisor and the board of directors

Informal—with your colleagues

Internal—with your employees

External—with customers

Upward—with shareholders

Downward—with subordinates not directly under you

Managing these different relationships is complex and requires a variety of communication techniques. Understanding which media to use in particular situations, with a variety of audiences, is a

part of the complex task of managing in the workplace.

Which speci�c leadership skills do you need to demonstrate to be a strong managerial communicator?

Strive to be a good listener. Supervisors, colleagues, employees, and customers seek someone who will

hear them out and care about their problems. Strong listening skills allow others to feel comfortable

with you. Listening well also resolves problems that stem from misunderstanding or assuming understanding when it does not exist. It also provides feedback and feedback on others' perceptions

that will broaden your understanding of the issues about which you need to resolve. Your decisions

and actions will be better for having listened to others.

You also need to speak well. This means slowly, clearly, and utilizing appropriate vocabulary for that

particular audience. Speaking at a level above what one would understand seems arrogant, while using

overly simplistic vocabulary is insulting. In either instance, you lose your audience and they do not hear your message.

You need to write well. This means appropriately for a business audience—clear, concise, direct, and

maintaining the receiver as the focus of the communication. It is not about you, it is about your

audience.

Barriers of communication include physiological barriers and psychological barriers. Physiological

barriers could be that the audience could not see you due to lack of proper lighting; could not hear you

properly over the phone; or could not type well to send a reply.

Psychological barriers include beliefs, education, bias, and other psychological states that may prevent you from understanding a message sent your way.

Both these barriers exist in audiences with which managers communicate. Understanding how to

communicate despite the presence of these barriers is one of the many challenges you will face as

future managers.

Additional Materials

View a Pdf Transcript of Case Analysis (media/week1/SUO_BUS3041_W1_L1.pdf? _&d2lSessionVal=YfxRWAKw387e5kGxjGY0vhDG7&ou=92850)

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