Building Relationships by Communicating Supportively

Introduction

Effective communication entails communication where managers provide enough channels for employees to express their ideas and air out their grievances. Managers are able to build effective relationships with employees if communication is effective within the organization. Managers ensure they motivate and inspire their employees since without this failure will occur within the organization. Managers act as role models and therefore have to ensure information reaches the employees on time. Most organizations have put in place technological measures since they think that technology will be the solution to problems within the organization. Most organizations prefer using emails as their main communication channels. Face to face communication is the most effective form of communication but organizations prefer using emails as one way of embracing technology. Using emails instead of face to face has made managers fail to know and understand their employees since there is no physical contact. Managers should interact with the employees physically in order to understand them and know their problems. Therefore communication is the most important thing within the organization since information has to be passed from the leaders to the employees and vice versa. This paper will focus on understanding how effective and supportive communication helps build relationships within the organization.

Importance of supportive communication

Supportive communication entails having specific goals one want to achieve and techniques of ensuring the goals are achieved (Michael, 2014). Supportive communication ensures that conflicts within the organization are solved in an effective manner while strengthening the relationship between the individuals involved in the conflict. Supportive communication is not only used in employees but can be used in other organization where there are seniors and juniors such as schools and homes. There are many types of interpersonal interactions that ensure supportive communication is used such as solving conflict between a child and a parent. Supportive communication can also be used effective in people who share equal amount of power such as friends, partners and business partners as well (Michael, 2014). Understanding the techniques of supportive communication will ensure that communication remains effective. In addition, it will ensure that conflicts are solved reasonably and that strong relationships are formed instead of creating enemies within the organizations.

Supportive communication is effective within the organization since it focuses on knowing the problems and getting the solutions to the problem (Bradley & Campbell, 2016). Rather than focusing on the individuals involved in the problem, supportive communication aims at focusing on the problem and coming up with changes or solutions that will ensure the problem is solved. This ensures communication remains effective since the person involved in the problem will participate in the process of coming up with solutions rather than defend themselves. This type of communication is effective within organizations since the person involved in the problem will be willing to come up with solutions to the problem since no blame game takes place. Supportive communication entails use of descriptive language rather than using a language that may sound judgmental to the people involved in the problem (Bradley & Campbell, 2016). Descriptive language ensures that the problem or situation is described thoroughly in order to avoid misunderstandings. The situation is described in a manner that everyone understands since the focus is on coming up with solutions that will deter such a situation from happening again. 

Supportive communication is effective since it focuses on finding the solutions rather than focusing on the problem. It ensures individuals feel respected and valued rather than getting judgment after problems occur (Bradley & Campbell, 2016). With this type of communication, people are able to identify themselves as problem solvers through coming up with solutions that will ensure people live peacefully.  This communication does not support people giving demands to others rather people dialogue and come up with solutions. Giving demands make other people feel inferior and at the end of it all, conflicts will not be solved (Michael, 2014). This communication is necessary in any given institution since it strengthens the relationship amongst employees and the leaders as well. People need to feel appreciated and valued thus supportive communication makes it possible for problems to get solved in a systematic manner whereby all people feel appreciated and valued as part of the problem solving group (Bradley & Campbell, 2016). This communication is effective and has made relationships strengthen after a conflict since all people feel valued, respected and appreciated.

Building positive interpersonal relationships

Positive relationships within an organization ensure that an organization remains all round since it grows socially, intellectually, emotionally and physiologically (Bradley & Campbell, 2016). Positive relationships ensure employees give better performance in the organization since they feel valued and appreciated as part of the organization. Organizations that have positive relationships are advantaged since employees will be more committed towards ensuring the organization remains successful and prosperous. Employees are able to interact well and share their ideas in organizations where positive relationships are possible. This implies that positive relationships motivate employees to work in the organization since employees feel appreciated. Sharing information and ideas make it possible for employees to learn new things and contribute towards ensuring the organization remains successful (Michael, 2014). Negative communication may exist within the organization but dealing with it require positive relationships that will ensure people handle the situation in an effective manner that will help strengthen their relationships (Bradley & Campbell, 2016). Effective managers should have the skill of communicating supportively since it helps strengthen the relationships between the managers and employees. Without strong relationship organizations cannot succeed since employees will always feel inferior therefore cannot express their problems and ideas freely.

Importance of effective communication within organizations

Organizations currently dwell on use of emails rather than face to face communication. Research shows that organizations are failing since they are focusing too much on using electronic communication methods rather than face to face communication which is the most effective method of communication (High & Solomon, 2016). Electronic communication comes with various challenges such as employees receive too much information which at times is not understood by all. In addition information can lack meaning since there is no explanation because emails are short. This communication does not give room for dialogue thus it is not effective as face to face communication where one will know the reaction of the people. Face to face communication ensures that good relationship exist between the managers and employees. Face to face communication is effective since managers are able to know and understand the employees (High & Solomon, 2016). Electronic communication should be mixed with face to face communication in order to ensure communication remains effective within the organization. Face to face communication strengthens the relationship amongst people in the organization. Managers should ensure they practice supportive communication whereby they work together with other employees in ensuring they find solutions to the problems affecting them.

Communication should be accurate since this will help deter errors that keep happening within the organization. Communication should be channeled using the right communication channels. Managers should ensure they practice effective communication in such a manner that enable them pass information to employees using the right channels (High & Solomon, 2016). Managers should not rely on electronic communication alone rather focus on face to face communication. Face to face communication help strengthen the relationship between employees and managers. In case of any problems facing employees managers should be able to know, if they are using the right communication channels. This shows that employees should have confidence in themselves and work towards ensuring the organization remains successful. Communication ensures that important information reaches employees on time and that problems are solved within the organization at the right time. This shows that communication is the most important thing that ensures success is achieved in the organization.

Conclusion

From the above discussion, it is evident that effective communication is the key to success in all organization. Managers should ensure they practice supportive communication in order to strengthen the relationship between them and the employees. Managers should have good communication skills so that information can flow effectively to other employees within the organization. They should possess skills in supportive communication so that conflicts can be solved in the best way possible. Solving conflicts in the best way possible enables build the relationship between employees and the manager. Managers should be ready to respect and value employees since employees are important shareholders in the organizations. Supportive communication ensures that conflicts within the organization are solved in an effective manner while strengthening the relationship between the individuals involved in the conflict.

References

Bradley, G. L., & Campbell, A. C. (2016). Managing Difficult Workplace Conversations: Goals, Strategies, and Outcomes. International Journal Of Business Communication, 53(4), 443-       464. doi:10.1177/2329488414525468

High, A. C., & Solomon, D. H. (2016). Explaining the Durable Effects of Verbal Person-  Centered Supportive Communication: Indirect Effects or Invisible Support?. Human       Communication Research, 42(2), 200-220. doi:10.1111/hcre.12077

Michael, D. F. (2014). Supportive Supervisor Communication As A Mediator Of The Leader-      Member Exchange And Subordinate Performance Relationship. International Journal Of     Leadership Studies, 8(2), 44-65.