2. Communication
• is vital to organizations—it’s how we coordinate actions and achieve goals. It is
defined in Webster’s dictionary as a process by which information is
exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs,
or behavior. We know that 50% to 90% of a manager’s time is spent
communicating (Schnake et al., 1990), and communication ability is related to
a manager’s performance (Penley et al., 1991). In most work environments, a
miscommunication is an annoyance—it can interrupt workflow by causing
delays and interpersonal strife. But, in some work arenas, like operating rooms
and airplane cockpits, communication can be a matter of life and death.
3. The Communication Process
Communication fulfills three main functions within an
organization, including coordination, transmission of information,
and sharing emotions and feelings.
All these functions are vital to a successful organization. The
coordination of effort within an organization helps people work
toward the same goals. Transmitting information is a vital part of
this process. Sharing emotions and feelings bonds teams and
unites people in times of celebration and crisis. Effective
communication helps people grasp issues, build rapport with
coworkers, and achieve consensus.
5. Barriers to Effective Communication
Filtering
-Refers to a sender manipulating information
so that it will be seen more favourably by the
receiver.
Selective Perception
- Receives in the communication process
selectively see and hear based on their needs,
motivations, experience, background, and other
personal characteristic.
6. Defensiveness
-When individuals interpret another’s message as
threatening, they often respond in ways that retard effective
communication.
Information Overload
- When information we have to work with exceeds our
processing capacity.
Language
- Words mean differently things to different people.
7. Gender Differences in Communication
As we have seen, differences in men’s and women’s communication styles can lead to
misunderstandings in the workplace.
• MEN - tend to focus more on competition, data, and orders in their communications.
• WOMEN - tend to focus more on cooperation, intuition, and requests.
• Both styles can be effective in the right situations, but understanding the differences is
a first step in avoiding misunderstandings.
