Chapter 8, 9, 10

Persuasiveness

All supervisors must exercise power and influence in organizations if they want to ensure high performance and achieve positive results. Effective supervisors tend to be persuasive leaders, distinguished by their use of persuasive language to influence others. They are not deceitful or autocratic; they encourage results earnestly instead of manipulating others.

Blessings of Civility

Civil communication and behavior carry the potential to avoid hurt feelings, prevent harm and damage to working relationships, and contribute to well-being in the workplace. There are several ways to create a more civil workplace: bring difficult issues out in the open, write things down before speaking, set enforcement guidelines for incivility, and be consistent in enforcing those guidelines.

Expressiveness

Effective supervisors express their thoughts, ideas, and feelings openly and aren't afraid to voice opinions in meetings. They tend toward extroversion. Supervisors who speak out let the people they work with know where they stand, what they believe, and how they feel.

Informative Managing Style

Failing to effectively filter information may lead to either information overload or a lack of sufficient information for task accomplishment. Good supervisors give advance notice of organizational changes and explain the rationale for organizational policies. Good supervisors are also transparent, communicating openly and honestly with employees. No matter their perceived skill level or effectiveness, when supervisors and employees engage in open communication and forward planning, they have a greater number of agreements about the employee's performance and behavior

Empathy and Sensitivity

In addition to being expressive speakers, good supervisors are willing, empathetic, reflective listeners. Empathetic listeners are able to hear the emotional dimensions of the messages people send them, as well as the content of the ideas and issues. Good supervisors are approachable and willing to listen to suggestions and complaints Good supervisors are also sensitive to the feelings, self-images, and psychological defenses of their employees. They know how and when to communicate with employees to maximize psychological health.

Consequences of Incivility

Much incivility originates with superiors and those in powerful positions within the organization. This type of incivility is often tolerated even though it leads to a decline in satisfaction with the supervisor. So the emotional and psychological adverse effects of coworker incivility are quite real along with additional costs from unfair treatment and depression. Understanding the dynamics of workplace incivility can enable incivility change with positive secondary effects in reducing burnout and turnout cognitions. Before rushing to judgment that all incivility is destructive, we need to point out that there is a place in the workplace for what may appear uncivil. Social swearing, on the other hand, can be a stress release for an individual provided the language is not aimed at someone else. It may even be something in which others can empathize and vicariously share while building relationships and camaraderie.