Organizational Influence (On Communication Practices)
ORGANIZATIONAL INFLUENCE
By Tania-Sherrie Tana
Interpersonal skills and personal interactions are often influenced by personal characteristics and individual views on communication. Communication is a process that takes these characteristics into consideration, and can often be applied to the creation of a variety of views that can influence how interactions are conducted and the outcomes of these interactions. Interpersonal skills and communications are often assessed in relation to cultural and social differences and the influence that individual development can have on the interactions in the workplace setting. This essay will endeavor to determine the influences on communication practices within an organization when dealing with change, conflict and decision making as individuals and in groups.
When determining a route towards implementing improvements or changes in the workplace setting, organizations have considered the impact of leadership and assessments of change theory, with a specific view of conflict, as they relate to the ability to transform an organizational structure. When hospitals, for example, determine the necessity for becoming learning organizations, the identification of change and the leadership directives often shape a view of the conflict related to resistance to change. These factors then require a consideration of the specific nature of leadership, the ability to maintain effective interpersonal communications in the midst of change, and the opposition elements that can extend from the imposing of change directives without consideration for the needs, concerns and questions of the workplace population.
Before organizations can recognize the importance of their leadership potential they must first understand what a leader is. On the most basic level, a leader can be defined as “an individual within an organization who is able to influence the attitudes and opinions of others within the organization” (Bjerke, 1999, p. 57). A leader...
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