Concepts:
Authority is the influence of certain personality, rise from reputable position and skills.
Communication in management – the main process tool, which manager is using in his activities.
PREAMBLE:
From history:
Legend says that Arthur, mythical king of Avalon, sat his loyal knights around the Round Table. They consulted the Kingdom important issues and together looked for solutions to problems. Historians say that in this way King Arthur wanted to give a clear equality with his knights, the equality in the discussion … None head of the desk, no master. Everybody at the desk has the same aim, welfare of the Kingdom, and herein lays their equality. The contemporary label, applicable to the royal court, can not be assumed that the authority of King Arthur’s was disrupted by his knights, on the contrary. Everyone knew where the King sits….
From presence:
In a large meeting room was held the meeting of one department. Meeting was hosted and led by Head of department. Unexpectedly, at the time of his speech, general manager of the company entered the room. He sat at the nearest free chair to the edge of a long negotiating table. After finishing the speech, asked Head of department his superior: “Mr. Director, here you are, sit down at my place at the head of the table. The Director smiled and replied: “Thank you, colleague. The head of the table is always where I am sitting…”
1. INTRODUCTION.
… we will not delight the reader of this article. Recipe – a simple process how to become the authority does not exist. Necessary characteristics to be the authority are inherent, but also they need to be developed within the whole professional career.
What we try to provide you through this article is only one of the possible solutions, how to gain the respect of your work environment…
The complex of various areas, topics and perspectives in management, which we could write about, is very extensive. In our study, we will focus on the area:
2. CREATING OF POSITIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIPS (communication in management).
Advices, which we will provide in the following lines appear to be simple steps, but they hide inside especially your work with yourself. Forget assertiveness … Prerequisite for successful implementation of the steps and advices below shall be your personal contribution: Self-reflection, Empathy, Willingness to learn, Communication skills, Positive treatment of people and Decency…
2.1 EDUCATION.
The basic building block is a continuous professional learning. Don’t use only the training organized by the company, but also look for other ways. The visit-card of a successful manager is also broad-spectrum of knowledge and information… as well as from the political, cultural, or other social events… In informal conversations with colleagues or subordinates, or with business partners, you need to have ability to maintain a social conversation and you can do it only if you have at least basic information on the subject of conversation. Sometimes its enough to start with reading of good literature…
2.2 PROFESSIONAL RESPECT.
It can not be reasonably expected that only through leadership position the people will automatically considered you as an authority… Show real professional respect to the practical experience and professional advices of senior colleagues, especially in the case of subordinates. Empty assertiveness, arrogance, ego enforcement, or other related reactions are the only manifestation of the fundamental misunderstanding of the role of manager in the company.
The real fact is that for the company is more useful and has a preference the practice proven experience… Your humility and respect for age and experience, gained sympathy and support of your peers (and subordinates). Also, this approach will ensure you their tolerance for mistakes you are doing in your activities without realizing it.
2.3 BASIC RULES OF COMMUNICATION….
with Superior:
Expert and respectable person, aware of his professional competence, is not subservient to his superiors. Maybe it’s new for inexperienced managers, but this is the basic definition and knowledge, which works well with your boss…. Politeness, respect and creative consciousness in speaking with your supervisor is the best communication environment…
with Colleagues:
At the beginning be aware of your colleague is not a friend. Business and privacy are two very different environments, with different rules of communication. Do not confuse it. In communication with colleagues is necessary to create a peer relationship to each other in order to exchange professional experience. Let a colleague advice, what should be improved in your work. Present him a common goal – interest to improve the business of the whole company – which will facilitate communication with colleague. If you master this method of communication, it is great potential to build a space for the upper position… Your colleagues will appreciate the attitude and the good news will then find the sender and the addressee ….
with Subordinates:
In addition to the above mentioned basic communication approaches, we will introduce more concrete examples of communication and relationships building with subordinates … An example of the multi-level governance, if you have a position of the mid-manager and you have direct reports – 1.level managers and their subordinates – 2nd level – other employees.
a) A simple rule applies, a policy of working relations:
In response to the closest – direct subordinates – show more professional demands and less tolerance for shortcomings in their managerial work.
Against distant – lower level of subordinates – show much more tolerance and understanding. Professional demands for lower levels of subordinates should be applied only by their direct superiors, i.e. by your direct reports.
b) The attitude, which is extremely efficient in relation to subordinates, is so called “open door policy”:
Create the possibility that your subordinates can come and interact with you.
Continuously meet and interact informally with your subordinates directly at their workplace. Do not limit it only to a variety of corporate sports-cultural events, or by organized outdoor activities: workshops, brain-stormings etc.
Show humanly and professionally, that you have respect for their work, make it clear that you have understanding to their problems….
Often you will learn facts in such meetings, that will your direct subordinate managers conceal to you…. It is more efficient to replace one inferior manager, like other staff – experts. These ordinary experts are creating real value and future of the company.
3. SUMMARY
You have to dispose the characteristics such as self-reflection, empathy.
You must have a permanent willingness and ability to learn.
You need to have and develop your communication skills.
You must have a positive attitude towards people.
You must have at least elementary decency and respect for experience and age.
… With the authority a person is born, you can not teach it anyone… either it is there or not…
No need to be pessimistic. There are more ways to the good solution. Our contribution is about experieces certified within the practice. You are maybe not the natural authority, but we will help you that your colleagues, bosses, business partners, and especially, your subordinate staff began to appreciate and respect you.
What more can you wish? However the way to this is long……
Author: Miroslav Ružička
