Office Politics
Tomas Green is a manager that faced difficulties in communication with his bosses. To improve his relations with his superiors Thomas Green is to use personal meetings and dialogues. Communication of this kind creates understanding between the partners and helps them to work out common strategies designed to make the operation of the whole company more efficient.
What Thomas Green should do to prepare for his meeting with Davis and McDonald?
Answer: The plan entails three approaches; meeting preparation requirements, acceptable communication patterns, and mistakes of staff members in corporate communication (Appleman 113). Meetings are crucial decision-making instruments for any organization. Hence, the preparation and participation in meetings are important to all the employees of Dynamic Displays. The meetings also tend to improve the communication, human relations, and team spirit of the participants (Argenti 203). Thomas must prepare adequately for the meeting with his boss, Davis, and career mentor, McDonald.
Preparation entails understanding the best approach to setting work objectives. Determining work targets is a participatory process between staff and immediate supervisor (Morgan 53). Thomas must seek information on the objectives of the meeting from the convener, McDonald. The objectives illustrate the key discussion issues (Kanigel 181). The most likely objective of this meeting is to improve the working relationship between Thomas and Davis. The preparation also entails Thomas identifying his weaknesses at the workplace. The main intention of this is to seek ways of improvement. Work colleagues observe our work pattern; hence, they best understand how we can be effective (Robbins 87).
The current communication trends in corporations utilize four major elements. The first factor is a communicator. The second factor illustrates the message. The next factor describes the audience, and finally, the fourth factor illustrates response (Munter 65). Apart from the four, Munter presented two additional elements. These are channel types and cultural environment. Channel type is the medium the sender uses in passing the message; for example email. The message must adhere to the cultural beliefs and values of the targeted audience (Riel 117). Work-related messages always illustrate continuous improvement. Mary Munter illustrates the communication approaches of corporations, enterprises, companies, firms, and organizations. Communication concepts describe the challenges that occur during corporate communication.
Many individuals believe that communication flows in one direction, from one individual to another. The recipient, usually, receives the information and even provides feedback, but the information flow is still one way, forward or backward (Munter 68). Many organizations use this communication method, especially when information proceeds from the top to bottom levels of the company. In rare instances information flow in the opposite direction, from lower-level staff to top management (Appleman 97). The staff must have adequate knowledge concerning their working environment. Otherwise, blind decisions will be made with the hope that adequate understanding is in place.
What should he have done instead?
Answer: Munter’s model recognizes that dialogue is a key component of information sharing in companies. The dialogue is an ongoing process, and not the usual message response aspect of sharing information (Munter 73). The communication concept must involve the continuous aspect of teaching, learning, and practicing or performing. Thomas Green should always adhere to the appropriate communication pattern at Dynamic Displays.
Instead of reacting negatively to the criticism from the side of Davis, Green should work on creating a cooperative and friendly atmosphere at the workplace. It is crucial to establish an understanding between himself and his bosses. Effective communication follows the communication loop. As a communicator, he determines the goal of the message. A good example is to initiate team spirit at the workplace. Teamwork creates a favorable work environment with proper human relations (Morgan 154). Hence, Thomas and his boss Davis will work harmoniously in the realization of company strategies.
The communication loop illustrates an effective course of action for achieving goals (Munter 75). Improving human relations between Thomas and Davis is easily achievable by counseling sessions. A neutral third party, McDonald, can initiate a meeting and explain to the two individuals the importance of working harmoniously. The effective communication approach for the realization of the goal is face-to-face. Direct human interactions improve the organizational aspect of team spirit (Tompkins 50).
What did Green do wrong?
Answer: Thomas Green must ensure analysis of mistakes made in the process of corporate decision making and communication. He fails to communicate important work information to his boss; for example, an update of his work schedule. Therefore, confusion exists in the organization, in areas of work expectations, venue, and processes (Robbins 91). Green lacks adequate motivation for the job he performs. Poor work enthusiasm enhances his ability to ignore the instructions of his boss. Green illustrates a poor attitude towards work performance. He applies a lot of effort in disputing the performance targets set by Davis.
He should embrace consultation instead of open criticism because work objectives setting occurs in any workplace by the staff and the immediate supervisor (Appleman 116). Communicating work matters is crucial for effective performance (Morgan 51). Thomas should respond to calls and email messages from his immediate supervisor. Continuous communication enhances the monitoring and evaluation of work projects (Riel 121).
Munter’s model recognizes that dialogue is a key component of information sharing in companies (Munter 78). The dialogue is an ongoing process, and not the usual message response aspect of sharing information. The communication concept must involve the continuous aspect of teaching, learning, and practicing or performing (Kanigel, 197). Presentation of the information or knowledge aims at benefits for both sender and receiver.
Works Cited
Appleman, Jack. 10 steps to successful business writing. VA: LSTD press. 2008. Print.
Argenti, Paul. Managing Corporate Communications in a Competitive Climate. New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. 2004. Print.
Kanigel, Robert. The One Best Way. London: Brown and Co. 2007. Print.
Morgan, Gareth. Images of Organization. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications. 2006. Print.
Munter, Mary. Guide to managerial communication: Effective business writing and speaking. NJ: Pearson. 2011. Print.
Riel, Cees. Essentials of Corporate Communication. New York: Routledge. 2007. Print.
Robbins, Stephen. Organizational Behavior – Concepts, Controversies, Applications. New York: Prentice Hall. 2004. Print.
Tompkins, Jonathan. Organization Theory and Public Management. London: Thompson Wadsworth. 2005. Print.