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Abstract
Listening and understanding are essential elements of communication although often least focused on in management literature and organizations. In knowledge-based organizations, indicative of the modern era of educational parity and information prevalence, communication has transformed from a vertical structure to a rounded or multi-directional pattern. Knowledge is not communicated only from leadership to subordinates but from and to all directions. Skillful leadership communication apparatus involving information and knowledge sharing among various stakeholder units are critical ingredients for success. The content, style, and source of the information being shared are essential elements of communication. Effective communication also involves listening and understanding of the information and knowledge being shared, elements that are least focused on in the communication process. Managers in a knowledgebased organization may make better decisions relevant to growth and sustainability by listening or receiving information from their employees.
Keywords: Communication, listening, knowledge, stakeholders, leadership.
Introduction
Effective communication undergirds leadership abilities and determines performance within organizations. As Barret (2002) evaluated, employees are motivated when informed and knowledgeable about organizational goals through effective communication. In a survey, 57% of 1000 employees in America reported that understanding of the goals of the company improves their performances, however, 66% acknowledged that the CEO communicated the vision and strategies of the organization to them (Grossman, 2016). In a survey of 1,061 American workers aged 18 years or above, Kelton Global (2013) revealed that 48% of employees believed their managers were not committed to the vision and mission of the organization. A lack of commitment by management to organizational vision and mission may translate into a lack of proper communication of these values to subordinates. A lack of effective communication of organizational vision and mission to employees may be detrimental to production and growth.
Communication, the dissemination of information, has two aspects; the delivering and receiving of information. In the modern era, the tools of communication such as telephone, video, fax, twitter, etc. are given credence to perhaps more than any other aspects in the communication process. The "delivery" aspect of communication is more focused on than the "receiving" or "listening" component. Cohn (2005) stated, "The starting place for effective communication is effective listening." In essence, the importance of the listener or receiver in the communication process cannot...