Conversation as Communication, Research Paper Example

Vision and communication are essential components of leadership because these traits help set goals and ensure that they will be accomplished. It is imperative to ensure that managers have good vision because this helps them set plans in place with manageable long-term and short-term goals. Furthermore, communication is important because effective managers need to delegate responsibilities in addition to providing instructions as to how they should be accomplished. If this is not done in a reasonable manner, it is impossible to be certain that the work will be accomplished as anticipated.

My concept of vision is synonymous with organization and understanding. It is important for leaders to have a thorough understanding of a project in order for them to guide others. Individuals who have sufficient background information necessary to understand the logic behind a project in addition to the experience necessary to select an order and duration of steps are needed in the workplace. Furthermore, it is necessary for the leader to understand how this work should be prioritized in addition to assigning tasks to the correct individual. If this is done properly, work will be completed efficiently, which will allow a new project to begin in a much quicker timeframe. Ultimately, visionary leadership should include the promotion of core spiritual values in addition to an establishment of a respectful and empowering relationship between workers and employees (McLaughlin, 2001).

Effective communication can be achieved through planning and control (Blair, n.d.). As mentioned previously, it is important for effective leaders to incorporate time management into their vision. This understanding extends into the need to utilize time management skills while communicating. It is essential that the manager ensure that all correspondence with his or her team is done in a manner that allows for efficient communication. Thus, it is often necessary for the leader to consider the audience that is being addressed in order to determine how the message could best be conveyed. Furthermore, it is essential to anticipate misunderstandings in advance of the message delivery in order to ensure that misconceptions could be avoided.

In communicating, it is necessary for the manager to determine whether the employees understand the provided correspondence. Therefore, effective managers ask employees to confirm the information that they were given using their own words in addition to an opportunity to ask questions. It is also important to remind employees of the information as regularly as needed to ensure that the required task is accomplished. The key of communication is to have employees engage in conversation so that correspondence does not occur only in a unidirectional manner. In addition, the manager is expected to respond to employees in a timely manner so that they are able to continue with their work as quickly as possible. Failure to adhere to these basic communication principles are likely to result in a decrease in productivity.

Therefore, communication is an essential component of vision because it helps the management gain a greater understanding of the needs of employees, which will contribute to the ability of the employees to make the greatest use of their time. It is meaningless to work towards an aim without a precise understanding of how it should be accomplished, which is true on the behalf of the manager and of the employees. It is first necessary for the manager to detail the vision and then determine how to best convey this plan to the staff. This will ideally include an understandable description of the overall goal in addition to sub-goals and basic steps as to how each employee will achieve their share of the work. Support should also be provided in a manner that allows the manager to bridge gaps in knowledge as needed.

There are many forms of communication that a manager can use to exchange information with his or her staff. As such, each method has varying levels of appropriateness depending on the situation. Thus, the ideal manager knows when to use each method in order to ensure that the message is being received and understood. In instances in which the manager wishes to convey a message to the whole team, it could be necessary to either transmit the message in person or through e-mail depending on the length and the complexity of the message (Blair, n.d. 2). Longer, more complex requests should be made in person to allow for the opportunity to check for understanding, while simpler requests and reminders can be forwarded through e-mail. If a manager wishes to provide an employee with information one-on-one, it would be effective to do so in person, through a phone call, or by e-mail. Again, this depends on the complexity of the message being delivered. More serious matters are better addressed by in person discussion, while information that is needed instantly should be communicated through a phone call. Minimally urgent information should be communicated by e-mail.

It is important for all written correspondence, such as that conducted by e-mail, be written clearly and in detail. In the modern world, many individuals fail to remember that it is proper protocol to send virtual messages using correct grammar, correct spelling, and writing in full sentences. Not only is doing so professional, but it will lead to a greater understanding of content. According to Blair, all documents should contain mention of the aim, be written considering a specific audience, and be fully edited prior to distribution (Blair, n.d. 1).

While communication is certainly important, one could use an understanding of reading and writing skills to create a vision that is based on evidence (Covey, 1991). During the planning process, it is useful for managers to consult a variety of peer-reviewed sources to ensure that the information that is being used to generate the plan has been validated. Thus, this will allow the organization to maximize time during the implementation of the plan and require little need for time for revision. The manager then needs to combine his or her knowledge of the field, the employees, and the potential for communication and comprehension when defining the roles that employees will take on when the plan is finally enacted. Therefore, throughout the entire planning process, communication is key.

In conclusion, communication leads to vision, and the reverse is true as well. It is necessary for managers to plan to communicate effectively to employees to ensure that they understand their tasks, however it is important to ensure that the communication is planned in order to enhance productivity. To make sure that tasks are accomplished in the workplace, managers must use the proper mode of communication is used in addition to providing the employees with proper detail and knowledge. When the manager is communicating the vision, there should be no opportunity for misunderstanding. If managers follow these principles closely, they will be able to drive their team to success.

References    

Blair GM. (n.d. 1). Conversation as Communication. Retrieved from http://www.see.ed.ac.uk/~gerard/Management/art7.html

Blair GM. (n.d. 2). How to Write Right. Retrieved from http://www.see.ed.ac.uk/~gerard/Management/art4.html

Covey, S. R. (1991). Principle-centered leadership. New York: Simon & Schuster.

McLaughlin C. (2001). Visionary Leadership. The Center for Visionary Leadership. Retrieved from www.visionarylead.org