Openness

While writing this essay, I learned about the importance of openness during communication.  Open communication provides receivers with the notion that the speaker is actively involved and collaborative with them.  In this essay I had to provide a text explanation, provide an explanation of my own, and relate the topic to situations in my workplace.

Openness

Introduction

One of the most taken for granted parts of organizational communication is openness. Openness should be a sought after relationship between a supervisor and an employee. The purpose of this paper is to provide a text example of the concept, provide, in my own words, an explanation of the concept, and apply the concept to a specific situation in such a way as to demonstrate the concept from my personal work situations.

Defining the Concept

According to Eisenberg, Goodall Jr, and Trethewey (2010), “The parties in an open communication relationship ‘perceive the other interactant as a willing and receptive listener and refrain from responses that might be perceived as providing negative relational or disconfirming feedback.’”  According to Ahrens (2006), “Openness sometimes refers to a very general philosophical position from which some individuals and organizations operate. This is often demonstrated by a decision-making process recognizing communal management by distributed stakeholders rather than a centralized authority.”

Explanation of the Concept

Openness in communication can be expressed from both verbal and non-verbal standpoints. In a non-verbal scenario, facial expressions, the look in ones eye, among other degrees of body language can help to progress or deter open communication.  The most effective supervisors possess the ability to communicate in their relationships with their subordinates.  This ability allows the supervisor to explain instructions and procedures in a manner that makes sense to the listener.  In addition, an effective supervisor can be an empathic listener.  They are able to take questions and provide answers, as well as take in suggestions and/or complaints while still making fair decisions regarding a course of action.  Finally, effective supervisors are able to share information and be forthcoming with employees.  They are able to give advanced notice on impending changes as well as explain the reasoning behind the changes that are being made.

Application of the Concept

I work for a regional telecommunications company. There have been many situations at my work place when it is necessary for a supervisor to possess all of the aforementioned traits.  However, such is life as this is not always the case.  One of the problems I’m currently dealing with is my manager is one of my long time friends.  He possesses the annoying trait of telling one person in the group information that should have been given to all the members of the team, or at the very least, to his assistant manager.  I was recently promoted to the position of assistant manager, but I’m constantly running into issues where I get blindsided with information from my subordinates that was supplied to them by our manager.  As I said, he is a long time friend of mine; however I fully believe (and I have told him as much) that he needs to work on his communication skills in a major way. I do not feel that he is purposely undermining my authority, but rather overlooking my position inadvertently.  There is nothing more annoying than a subordinate giving information that should have been given to the assistant manager in the first place.  On the flip side of things, our area manager is an extremely good and forthcoming communicator.  He possesses all of the qualities of an effective communicator.  His openness is one of his strong suits.  I’ve never ran into a case where he has purposely withheld information that would be helpful to me and my job.   The only drawback is that our area manager gives information to our store manager, who then in turn is supposed to give that information to me.  Therein lies the problem. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, this essay provided a text example of the concept, provided, in my own words, an explanation of the concept, and applied the concept to a specific situation in such a way as to demonstrate the concept from my personal work situations.  I deal with both open and ineffective communicators on a daily basis.  Whether I’m dealing with a friend, a co-worker, or both; it is extremely difficult for me to do my job effectively or happily when there is a missing link in the chain of information. I pride myself on trying my best to be an effective communicator through my openness to my employees.  I may not always succeed, but that is part of being human.  Mostly I try to limit the amount of communication failures on my behalf.  I feel this is an affliction common to many in their work places, but I feel it is possible to see my situation improve due to my outside relationship with my store manager. 

References

Ahrens, C. (2006). Communication with your surroundings. San Francisco: Bourne.

Eisenberg, E. M., Goodall Jr, H. L., & Trethewey, A. (2010). Organizational communication:                        Balancing creativity and constraint. (6^th ed.). Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s.