Do you know what is directing? it is one of the management functions in which an institution directs its employees towards the success of the planned goals.
so let’s start a complete blog on how managers direct employees with the help of directing function.
What’s in it for me?
- Meaning of Directing
- Importance of Directing
- Elements of directing
- Conclusion
- Frequently asked questions
Meaning of Directing
Once the employees are selected there is a need to order them and get the work done.
Directing refers to giving commands and guidance to employees by motivating them, overseeing the activities of employees, speaking with them.
Managers act as leaders and lead them in the right direction, so directing function involves supervision, communication, and leadership.
The directing function of management is related to teaching, guiding, inspiring, and motivating the employees in the organisation so that their efforts result in the fulfilment of organisational goals
Therefore, After the Staffing function, right person is placed in the right place in the company. But actual work begins only when these persons get orders from their seniors.
Directing does not mean only instruction but it also includes supervising the employees when they are doing the job, motivating them to perform more efficiently, and leading them towards the achievement of organizational goals.
Directing also means telling people what to do and observing that they do it best of their ability.
It is a complex function and includes all activities which are formed to cheer juniours to work usefully and efficiently.
It deals with steps of manager takes to get subordinates and others to carry out plans.
Importance of Directing
1. To initiate action
The work starts in an organization only when employees receive orders and direction from their seniours.
In this function of directing, seniors guide the efforts of the worker towards the planned goals of the organization.
If the directing function is performed successfully it will result in the organization in the form of unity of direction and achievement of goals
2. Integrate employee’s efforts
There is a large number of workers working in an organization at different levels and in different job positions.
The employees may differ in their levels of authority and the type of job assigned. But every job is similar to each other as they part of one organization.
When employees are working at different levels with different authorities their efforts are not separated and they match only with the help of directing function.
3. Means of Motivation
It is not only concerned with getting work done by passing orders and instruction from a superior level they also have to motivate employees for performing best.
Motivation is a very important part of directing.
The directing function makes them close with the organization and cheers them to perform the best of their skills.
4. Bring stability and balance in the organization
Directing always try to make organizational balance.
Generally when employees are working at different levels they grow different attitudes and the balance between their attitude is made by directing function.
5. To facilitate change
Most of the employees delay accepting the changes but through directing functions the changes can be implemented more easily as while giving directions the seniours guide them, so these changes are also good for them.
Elements of directing
1. Supervision
Supervision refers to as a guiding, monitoring, observing, and ordering employees while they are performing their jobs in the company.
The word supervision is created with joining of two words i.e., super means over and above and vision means watching or seeing. so supervision means watching the activities of workers from over and above.
Some important functions of supervision are
- Ensuresissuing of instruction
- Optimum utilization of resources
- Discipline
- Feedback
- Improves communication
- Improves motivation
- Maintaining group unity
2. Motivation
It means increasing the belief and inspiring the employees in the organization for improving their actions and converting then in organization favor.
Motivation is a emotional term which means it cannot be forced on employees.
Motivation is created by themself from inside for willing to do work.
It is the process of making juniours to act in a desired manner to achieve organizational goals.
Features of motivation
- It is an emotional event.
- Goal-directed behavior.
- Motivation in a difficult situation.
- Active and continuous process.
3. Communication
Communication means exchange of thoughts, ideas, views massages, information, order between two or more than two persons by different means with the help of spoken words, written words, diagrams, pictures, graphs, or gesture is known as communication.
It is never one-way communication is always helpful in two ways where one is a sender and another one is a receiver.
Minimum of two persons or parties must be involved in the communication process.
Types of communication
- Formal communication
- Informal communication
Formal communication
It is also called official communication because it is generally held in organizations. Whenever it happens there will be an exchange of ideas and information between two persons,
There are four types of formal communication
(i) Downward communication – In this type of communication information is passes through from top-level to lower level
For example – massage passes from CEO to subordinates
(ii) Upward communication- In this type of communication information flows from lower level to top-level.
For example – information passes from subordinate level to CEO or SEO.
(iii) Horizontal communication- this type of communication held between two persons who are working under the same organization at the same level.
For example – Manager of the different department communicating with the manager of the different department under the same organization
(iv) Diagonal communication – this type of communication help between two persons working at a different level under the same organization with different level of powers.
For example – salesmen may request the production manager to modify the product design according to the requirements of customers.
In short, these type of communications held between companies because it requires official attachment for communication.
Informal communication
Communication that takes place without any official attachment is called informal communication.
Networks of informal communication are
- Gossips.
- Cluster.
- Single strand
- Probability.
In short, this communication can take place any where any time,
For example
when we are talking with our friends is called informal communication because we dont kneed any official attachment for that.
4. Leadership
It is the process of changing the behavior of the worker towards the achievement of a defined goal.
Following elements must be present in the leadership
- Firstly, Leadership is always in favour of achieving a common goal.
- Secondly, Minimum two members are required because influencing own behaviour is not leadership.
- Thirdly, The influence should be to get the willing co-operation of the employees and not the forceful co-operation.
Types of leadership
Autocratic leadership
In this type of leadership one person keep control of all the subordinates in the organization. He centralizes power in himself and takes all decisions without consulting anyone.
For example
Adolf Hitler, He warned his committee to meet independently. He expected complete willingness from committee members
Democratic leadership
Under this style, leaders take decisions in consultation and participation with workers. deligation of authorities and decentralization of powers is present here.
For example
Narayan Murty: under his guidance employees of Infosys were supported to talk freely with each other and give suggestions.
CONCLUSION
Once the employee is selected there is a need to instruct them and get the work done. Directing refers to giving directions or instruction to employees by motivating them, supervising their activities, communicating with them.
Managers act as leaders and guide them in the right direction, so directing function includes, supervising, motivating, communicating, and leadership.
Frequently asked questions
Informal communication is considered as grapevine. It is called grapevine because there is no fixed source of information and it can spread in any direction.
motivation is a emotional event.
Motivation produces goal-oriented behavior.
it can be positive as well as negative.
motivation is a complex process.
dynamic as well as continues process
You can also read
- Functions of management
- what is staffing?
- what is controlling?
- Functions of management
- what is organising?
