4. Directing

According to Kootz & O’Donell,

“Directing is the inter personnel aspect of managing by which subordinates are led to understand and contribute effectively and efficiently to the attainment of enterprise objectives.”

 Directing is about the actuation of the methods to work efficiently to achieve the set organizational objectives. The directing function is all about the day-to-day interaction between the management and the staff.

The function of directing has strong links to things such as leadership. A good manager will be able to inspire the workforce to work towards the goals not because they have to do it, but because they are driven to achieve these objectives.

Why is directing essential?

Directing has an important role in an organization as it helps strengthen the operational capability of the organization. It does so by ensuring the different parts of the organization are working better. Directing is a bridge between the operational needs and the human requirements of its employees.

The management’s ability to listen to the workforce, support and inspire them will boost the productivity and profitability of the organization.

TO KNOW MORE

• Supervision – You need to oversee the work your employees are doing. The method requires watching and monitoring the performance, but also supporting and guiding the employees when things are not going as planned.
• Communication -  As a manager, you need to create an environment that supports different communication methods from passing information to exchanging opinions.
• Motivation – Motivating as a manager includes positive and negative feedback, provision of ideas and the opportunities to develop skills further. Directing might also have an element of monetary or non-monetary incentives, such as the introduction of bonuses.
• Leadership – Managers must essentially act more like leaders when directing the workforce. This means that you need to occasionally motivate and inspire by setting an example, instead of simply telling the subordinates what they need to do.