Within the organization cohesion has always been fostered through effective communication. Without effective communication the objectives of the organization cannot be achieved because there will be a discrepancy between what management and employees expect. Effective listening may be one of the most critical aspects of the communication process for overall success. One of the greatest ways to achieve an effective communication system within the organization is through insuring that listening is an element incorporating all communication between management and stockholders, board of directors, employees, suppliers, consumers and any other individuals who have a stake in the company’s overall success. New paradigms of doing business are causing a shift away from traditional one-way communication in favor of two-way communication as a means of decision-making, strategy formation, and problem solving. This paper will discuss the importance of effective listening, and the ability to draw information from a diverse resource pool, as a means of creating cohesion within the organization and maintaining open lines of communication between management and employees. Examples of successful training exercises being utilized by different companies to build effective listening behaviors in managers will be provided, including some unique workshops that involve improvisation as a means of achieving this. So, too, how the issue of gender can impact listening skills will also be demonstrated through use of a case study. A conclusion will address the pitfalls of ignoring effective listening as an integral part of any organizational management communication system and why effective listening is so important to the organization’s bottom line in today’s competitive business environment.
The human resource factor is often the most critical one in determining a company’s success. All too often, however, the opinions, needs and wants of ...