The Communication Problem Solver 26. Managers need top-flight communication skills to keep their staffs productive and collaborative. But often, those who manage lack the ability to get things back on track once miscommunication occurs. This book helps readers analyze their communication skills and challenges and explains how they can use simple problem-solving techniques to resolve the people issues that derail productivity at work. Easily accessible and filled with real world management examples. This no-nonsense guide is packed with practical tools to help any manager be immediately effective, as well as a handy list of common communication problems and corresponding solutions | Leading Collaborative Conversations collaborative conversation. If a manager is going to entrust someone else to achieve results for which she is accountable the manager can get the best results by following a rational process rather than spontaneously assigning accountability in passing. Corporate culture must also be taken into consideration in terms of how work is usually delegated. But sometimes corporate culture must be challenged. Just because it is the usual way of doing things does not mean it provides the best communication the most cost-effective method the least-confusing way or the best way to ensure all projects coordinate with each other. We have always done it this way does not guarantee the best outcome or the most effective way to reach a goal. For example one senior management high-tech group I conducted training with rebuffed the concept of setting clear expectations and using a process when delegating. We do hallway delegation here one of them said emphatically. Maybe that is why we have so many problems the CEO commented. He continued that they needed to explore the idea of adding structure to their delegations since they were a growing company and might have outgrown hallway delegations. Hallway delegation might work fine for some tactical delegations or for one-off tasks. For example Will you go to the meeting for me tomorrow You will need to prepare a b and c to present to the committee. Can you prepare a summary report on X by Thursday at 5 00 . Would someone on your staff be able to edit this proposal for me by the end of the week For more strategic work hallway delegation may prevent success or cause communication and people problems. Lack of clarity when delegating can cost time cause rework and inadvertently pit groups against each other. Information might be incorrect or inconsistent with previous delegations. When the person accepting the responsibility is not clear enough on what to do he or she may not meet the manager s .
