Organizational

Communication
The most challenging task for managers
Organizational Communication

• Studies show that managers spend over 70% of their

time communicating
• If this is so, why do most managers identify
communications as their #1 challenge?
• There is a big difference between doing it, and doing
it well
Organizational Communication

Organizational Communication:
• Focuses on getting work done and meeting
organizational goals
• Focuses on change and adaptation
• Focuses on social aspects and motivation of
individuals
Organizational Communication

Six Opportunities for Miscommunication

• Role of the communicator
• Variables: language, symbols, word usage
• Channel used
• Content
• Characteristics of the sender and receiver
• Context
Organizational Communication

Do you hear what I’m saying?

• Use of multiple techniques, leads to interference and
misinterpretations
• Influence tactics might affect what you hear
• Symbols can interfere with what you hear
• Nonverbal factors can interfere with what you hear
Organizational Communication

Barriers to effective communications:

• If HP only knew what HP knows, John Doyle, former head of HP labs
• Ineffective communication skills
• Negative attitude towards the situation
• Information overload
• Inconsistency with our frame of reference
• Credibility of source
• Physical location
• Distractions
• Defensiveness
Personal Communications

Why focus on improving communications skills?

• Employers list communication skills as a basic
requirement and a primary flaw in candidates
• Are you comfortable with your ability to communicate
orally and in writing?
• Do you know how to listen and if not, is this a
problem?
• Do you know how to give and receive effective
feedback?