General Business Project

General Business

Application Project

1. In Chapter 15 we discussed successful communication and listening skills. Now that you have nearly completed this Principle of Management class, what will you do differently to improve your communication effectiveness or listening skills? Name and describe two items.

To demonstrate communication effectiveness, I would avoid all single-strand grapevines in my department in order to avoid inaccurate messages to other in my department. Instead of telling one employee to tell another employee what to do and than that person tell the next employee what I want accomplished, I have now come to the conclusion that I need to have weekly meetings with my staff, in order, to avoid miscommunication of what the department needs to do on a weekly basis. By giving a weekly meeting, everyone who reports to me, can hear what they need to accomplish and its coming straight from me in a verbal form of communication to all of them. At that time, if they have any questions about what they need to do, I can answer their questions personally and avoid the single-strand grapevine that could possibly distort what I wanted them to do and achieve our weekly goals without any misunderstandings.

In Chapter 15, I also paid attention to encouraging formal organization communication and focused on trying to listen attentively to my employees using Table 15.2 as a guideline. After reviewing the “Ten Commandments for Good Listening”, I realized I wasn’t following some of the major guidelines. When an employee of my department comes to me now, I am not going to do the talking, I am going to remain patient until my employee finishes what they need to say without interrupting them and allow them to speak freely. I also realize I have the tendency to criticize their work habits, instead I know now I need to ask questions and see how they think we need to accomplish the tasks and maybe try a “trial run” on their ideas before I say no.

2. In Chapter 16 we discussed several approaches to Leadership effectiveness. We also reviewed various Leadership styles. What do you believe your personal style of Leadership is? Describe why you think this is your style. Do you foresee making any changes to your style as a result of this course? Why or why not?

I believe I would fall under the category of Superleadership. I believe this is my style of leadership because I have employees that I pay minimal attention to because they are productive and can work independently from me. I encourage my employees to make choices without asking me first in order to give them a sense that they can think on their own and they are competent in making a choice in situations when I am not available.

I do not believe that I will change my style unless I change positions in my current company or go to