Management+Skills

Communication is the transmission of information to one or more persons in a way that ensures the recipients understanding of the message is as close as possible to the meaning the sender intended. Communication is the most important management skill that managers can have. Effective communication can avoid a number of major problems in an organisation. The management style that is adopted will generally determine the style of communication used. The management structure and the culture of the organisation will also affect the communication of the organisation. There are many forms of communication that can be classified into two categories: formal and informal. FORMAL || INFORMAL || Letters || Gestures || Memos || Gossip || Emails || Some emails || Newsletters || Some telephone conversations || Reports || Texting || Presentations || Facial expressions || Strategic plans || Body language || Speeches || Networking || Interviews || Grapevine || Meetings || || Appraisals  || || Telephone conversations  || || __ Cross-Cultural Communication: __ With the globalisation of business managers need to be aware of the cultural differences of business in other countries. Some things that we would say as Australians may not be appropriate or understood overseas. E.g. “No worries” is not generally understood by Americans in the way that we mean. __ Barriers: __ Some of the barriers to effective communication are: - How credible the manager is? - Is the environment the message is being communicated in suitable? - Is the communication clear and concise? - What cultural differences are there? ** Negotiation: ** Negotiation is an important management skill and is something that needs to be explicitly taught. Negotiation is the process of reaching an agreement through discussion and compromise. A skilled negotiator will aim for a win/win situation for both parties. Stages in successful negotiations are: - setting goals and objectives - setting limits for compromise - establishing a positive working atmosphere - recording information and confirming understanding - knowing when to compromise - Sealing the deal. ** Time Management: ** The ability to manage your time wisely and productively is a great skills for a manager to have. There are many organisations that provide time management training and products, such as day runner, day planner and filofax. Time management is all about knowing your capabilities, and matching that with the finite amount of time in each day. Time management helps make all the other management skills work. ** Delegation: ** Delegation is when a manager give tasks and the authority to make decisions about the tasks to another employee. The manager does not relinquish power/responsibility the task. The skill of delegation is important for managers for a number of reasons: time management, motivation for employees, stress management. Delegation not done properly can lead to problems such as the job not being done properly, the manager not wanting to be ‘shown-up’ by the employee if they do a better job. By Siobhan Rafferty
 * Communication: **