A520.3.5.RB.HoyeJennifer

In order to be an effective manager in the work force today, one must have a very good understanding of the various ways in which people interact and communicate with each other. It is critical that good leaders display the ability to effectively communicate with their associates and subordinates, as well as train and encourage others to demonstrate those same communication skills. By effectively doing so, I have the ability to promote both a healthy and efficient work environment that everyone will benefit from. The perspectives of effective communication requires team members to meet the challenge of learning to effectively communicate and develop together for a common goal.

Supportive communication is the skill most linked with effective management. The text lists the eight principles of supportive communication are as follows:

- Supportive Communication is problem-oriented, not person-oriented.
- Supportive communication is based on congruence, not in congruence.
- Supportive communication is descriptive, not evaluative
- Supportive communication validates rather than invalidates individuals
- Supportive communication is specific (useful), not global (useless).
- Supportive communication is conjunctive, not disjunctive.
- Supportive communication is owned, not disowned
- Supportive communication requires listening, not one-way message delivery

As a result, supportive communication can empower, along with helping in collaboration and facilitation! Today, more organizations have adopted some kind of empowerment initiative for at least part of their workforce. To be successful in today’s business environment, companies need the knowledge, ideas, energy, and creativity of every employee, from front line workers o to the top level managers in the executive suite. The best companies accomplish this by empowering their employees to take initiative without prodding, to serve the collective interests of the company without being micro-managed, and to act like owners of the business.

Teamwork and cooperation greatly increase the efficiency of an organization, supportive communication is essential at a very basic level to creat this teamwork, or synergy! Synergy is a process in which the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Cooperation and teamwork facilitate communication by fostering an atmosphere of mutual support in which each member of the team feels supported by the others. This communication between team members increases feelings of solidarity as everyone begins to develop similar ideas about where their team is headed.