Why do you think a lot of bosses are accused of being poor communicators”?
People in managerial or supervisory positions tend to be poor communicators because they usually macromanage” their staff. This type of management only involves overlooking the different functions of the employees, resulting in reduced interaction and lessened communication. Additionally, bosses may become condescending due to their position, allowing it to influence their thinking and actions. The higher the position, the more supervisors or managers feel a degree of pride and superiority over their employees. This can lead to miscommunication or even a lack of communication in the workplace.
The hierarchical structure of a company also contributes to complacency among bosses and poor communication. Instead of taking initiative and talking with employees, bosses often have a mentality that since they are at a higher level in the organizational structure, it is up to their employees to make an effort to consult with them or talk with them.
What does this case suggest about the relationship between reinforcement theory and communication?
This case only proves that when an action results in a negative consequence, employees try to decrease the occurrence of this behavior. On the other hand, when it brings positive effects, the natural outcome would be an increase in the action that produced it. However, when a specific behavior does not deliver either good or bad effects, it is most likely that the action will never happen again.
In the workplace, reinforcement theory can either hinder or promote communication. If managers or supervisors’ ways of communicating produce favorable results, there is a huge possibility that they will repeat that action. As a result, it will yield better communication flow. But if they already know that a particular action will produce adverse results, they will most likely avoid doing that specific action.
Since Caruso is not aware of the consequences of his behavior and actions satisfy his wants and needs as a manager or supervisor in public relations; he continues to do them despite their negative impact on employee performance. His bad behavior has affected employee initiative to be more productive and promote effective communication.
What specific actions do you think Caruso should take to improve his communication skills?
Caruso needs to change his outlook on his behavior. By understanding the problem, he can reflect on his actions and determine if it’s worth acting in a way that alienates his employees. Additionally, evaluating the pros and cons of the current situation will help him determine the advantages and disadvantages of not communicating with employees. These steps will enable Caruso to realize that modifying his behavior is necessary to foster better interaction and communication with employees, resulting in higher quality outputs for the company.
Assuming Caruso wants to improve, how can he learn to be a better communicator?
In order to improve Caruso’s communication skills, he should try to be more open-minded and sensitive to the feelings of his employees in order to avoid hurting them psychologically and emotionally. Additionally, he should try to be less condescending when interacting with his employees so that they do not feel inferior or inadequate. It is important for a manager or supervisor to be productive in order for their staff to also be productive; this creates a chain effect. Caruso should initiate positive changes so that his employees will be motivated and encouraged to become better workers and individuals.
