The document discusses effective communication in business. It emphasizes that excellent interpersonal skills are important for managers to communicate with employees. Both formal and informal communication are used, but informal communication is most significant. Formal communication typically addresses tasks while informal communication satisfies social needs and facilitates business functions. There are various types of communication, including verbal, written, and electronic. Barriers to effective communication include cultural differences, assumptions, and emotions. Managers can provide feedback and actively listen to overcome these barriers and improve communication.

1. Supervision
Chapter 4: Effective
Communication

2. • Excellent interpersonal or human
relations skills are required if you
hope to eventually become a
successful manager, or owner of a
business.
• In business, communication takes
place in a variety of formats.
• Informal communication—not formal
communication—is most important in
business.
Effective Communication

3. • Information enables managers and
supervisors to make sound business
decisions.
• Formal communication often addresses
task-related issues and tends to span the
organization’s chain of command.
• Informal communication may move in any
direction, and it is as likely to satisfy social
needs as it is to facilitate the functions of
business.
Formal and Informal

4. •Verbal communication provides a more
personal interaction and fosters feelings of
trust and goodwill.
• Perhaps the least understood method of informal
communication is the employee grapevine and
the rumors and gossip it provides.
• Downward communication is necessary to
execute decisions and to give employees
information about the organization.
Communication

5. • Upward
communication is
initiated by employees
who seek to inform or
influence those who
are higher up in the
organization’s
hierarchy.
– There is probably
no area of
communication that
is more in need of
improvement than
upward
communication.
Communication Types

6. • Written communication is generally
the method used if the message is
somewhat complex and official.
• Because e-mail messages are
surprisingly permanent, a good rule
of thumb is to think before you press
the Send button.
Communication Types

7. Methods of Communication
• Writing well in business is more
important than ever—you need to
write concisely and with impact.
• In your business writing, ensure
that you follow the seven
suggestions and tips.

8. Obstacles
• The messages
that we send
are not always
the messages
that are
received.
• When individuals
have different
cultural
backgrounds,
effective
communication
can be
challenging.

9. Obstacles
• People sometimes struggle with the
communication process when they do
not share similar backgrounds.
• When giving direction and instructions to
your staff, it is best to use language that
is measurable, concrete, and not open
to interpretation.

10. Communication Barriers
• When you assume listeners know what
you are talking about, you are simply
asking for trouble.
• Emotions are a powerful force, but they
have no real place in effective
communication at work.
• Be aware of the actions that effective
managers and supervisors can take to
overcome the barriers to effective
communication.

11. Listening
• Passive listening - you are not really
processing the entire message.
• Active listening - requires effort and
concentration because you want to fully
understand what the speaker is saying.
• There are generally four requirements for
active listening.
• Follow the seven tips to focus on the
other person and not allow all the people
and tasks that are vying for your attention
distract you.

12. Positive Feedback
• Telling your
employees that they
are doing a good job
and then pointing out
specific examples is
providing positive
feedback.
• Positive feedback is
almost always well
received because it
reinforces what
people want to hear or
what they already
believe to be true
about themselves.

13. Negative Feedback
• Strolling out of the office and barking
at the employee who has done
something wrong is not negative
feedback.
• The ultimate goal of negative
feedback is to change incorrect
behavior or performance by using
hard numbers, data, and other
specifics.
• For feedback to be effective,

14. • Effective managers need excellent
interpersonal or human relations
skills to communicate with employees
and to provide the kind of work
environment where talented
employees can self-motivate. The
communication process—sending
and receiving information—
contributes significantly to one’s
human relations skills.
Summary

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