The managerial function of directing is like the activities

of a teacher in a classroom. Inorder to teach, a teacher

has to guide his students, maintain discipline, inspire
themand lead them to the desired goal. It is a very
important function in the management of any
enterprise. It helps the managers in ensuring quality
performance of jobs by the employees and achievement
of organisational goals. It involves supervision,
communication and providing leadership to the
subordinates and motivating them to contribute to their
best of capability.
•It guides and helps the subordinates to complete the
given task properly and as perschedule.
•It provides the necessary motivation to subordinates
to complete the work satisfactorily and strive to do
them best.
•It helps in maintaining discipline and rewarding those
who do well.
•Directing involves supervision, which is essential to
make sure that work is performed according to the
orders and instructions.
•Different people perform different activities in the
organisation. All the activities are interrelated. In
order to co-ordinate the activities carried out in
different parts and to ensure that they are performed
well, directing is important. It thus, helps to integrate
the various activities and so also the individual goals
with organisational goals.

•Directing involves leadership that essentially helps in

creating appropriate work environment and build up
team spirit.
 ELEMENTS
• COMMUNICATIO
N

• SUPERVISION

• MOTIVATION

• LEADERSHIP
 COMMUNICATION
Communication is a basic organisational
function, which refers to the process by
which aperson (known as sender)
transmits information or messages to
another person (knownas receiver). The
purpose of communication in
organisations is to convey
orders,instructions, or information so as to
bring desired changes in the performance
and or theattitude of employees.
In an organisation, supervisors transmit
information to subordinates.Proper
communication results in clarity and
securing the cooperation of subordinates.
Faulty communication may create
problems due to misunderstanding
between the superior and subordinates.
The subordinates must correctly
understand the message conveyed to
them.
• there are two parties, one is known as the sender and
the other is known as receiver;
• there is a message sent by the sender to the receiver;
and
• the receiver receives the message and understands it.

Communication does not always flow from supervisor

to subordinate. It can also be from a subordinate to a
supervisor. For example, subordinates can pass
information to the supervisor about the
faults/problems at the assembly line. Thus, it is a two
way process.
 IMPORTANCE
•Communication helps employees to understand their
role clearly and perform effectively.
•It helps in achieving co-ordination and mutual
understanding which in turn, leads to industrial harmony
and increased productivity.
•Communication improves managerial efficiency and
ensures cooperation of the staff.
•Effective communication helps in moulding attitudes and
building up employees’ morale.
•Communication is the means through which delegation
and decentralisation of authority
is successfully accomplished in an organisation.
Formal and Informal Communication

The path through which information flows is

called channel of communication. In every
organisation we have both formal and informal
channels. The paths of communication which are
based on relationship establish formally by
management are the formal channels. For
example, the General Manager communicates a
decision to the production manager who may
then issue orders or instructions to the foremen.
It may also be like a worker applying to his
supervisor for a loan from the GPF account.
He/she forwards it to the Manager Accounts who
finally sends it to the General Manager (Finance) for
approval. Communication, which takes place on the
basis of informal or social relations among staff,is
called informal communication.

For example:
Any sharing of information between a production
supervisor and an accountant, as they happen to be
friends or so. Mostly informal channels are used due to
friendly interaction of members of an organisation.
Infact, it may be purely personal or related to
organisational matters.
 Upward, Downward, Horizontal
and
Diagonal Communication
(On the basis of the flow or direction of
communication in organisations, it can be classifiedas
upward, downward, horizontal or diagonal) When
employees make any request, appeal,report, suggest
or communicate ideas to the superior, the flow of
communication is upward i.e., from bottom to top. For
instance, when a typist drops a suggestion in the
suggestion box, or a foreman reports breakdown of
machinery to the factory manager, the flow of
communication is upward.
Upward communication encourages employees to
participate actively in the operations of their
department. They get encouraged and their sense of
responsibility increases when they are heard by their
supervisors about problems affecting the jobs. When
communication is made from superiors down the
hierarchy it is called a downward communication. For
instance, when superiors issue orders and instructions to
subordinates, it is known as downward communication.
When the General Manager orders supervisors to
work overtime, the flow of communication is
downward i.e., from top to bottom. Similarly,
communication of work assignments, notices,
requests for performance, etc. through bulletin
boards, memos, reports, speeches, meetings, etc,
are all forms of downward.
Communication can also be amongst members at the
same level in the organization. For instance, production
manager may communicate the production plan to the
sales manager. This is known as horizontal flow of
communication. Here, the communication is among
people of the same rank and status. Such
communication facilitates coordination of activities that
are interdependent. When communication is made
between people who are neither in the same
department nor at the same level of organizational
hierarchy, it is called diagonal communication. For
example, cost accountant may request for reports from
sales representatives not the sales manager for the
purpose of distribution cost analysis. This type of
communication does take place under special
circumstances.
 Verbal And Non –
On Verbal
the basis of the mode used, communication may be verbal or
non-verbal. While communicating, managers may talk to their
subordinates either face to face or on telephone or they may send
letters, issue notices, or memos. These are all verbal
communication. Thus, the verbal modes of communication may be
oral and written. Face to face communication, as in interviews,
meetings and seminars, are examples of oral communication.
Issuing orders and instructions on telephone or through an
intercommunication system is also oral communication. The
written modes of communication include letters, circulars, notices
and memos. Sometimes verbal communication is supported by
non-verbal communication such as facial expressions and body
gestures. For example– wave of hand, a smile or a frown etc. This
is also termed as the gestural communication.
 SUPERVISIO
N
After the employees have been instructed
regarding what they have to do and how
to do, it is the duty of the manager to see
That they perform the work as per instructions. This is
known as supervision. Managers play the role of
supervisors and ensure that the work is done as per the
instructions and the plans. Supervisors clarify all
instructions and guide employees to work as a team in
co-operation with others. Supervisors solve most of the
routine job-related problems of subordinates.
 FUNCTIONS
• Clarifies orders and instructions issued to subordinates and
:
ensures that they have understand and follow these fully;
• Ensures that subordinates have the required facilities to
perform their jobs;
•Keeps a watch and guides the activities of subordinates in
performing their jobs;
• Broadens the horizon of his subordinates by making them
aware of the wider aspects of their day-to-day work;
• Coordinates the work of different subordinates under him;
• Detects errors and omissions and ensures their rectification.
 IMPORTANCE
Supervisors are the key people among managers at
different levels. They are the link between the top and
middle management and the workers. Take, for example,
the foreman of the factory or the office superintendent
in the office. Both of them are members of the
management team, and are in direct contact with
operatives in the workshop and clerical staff in the office.
They are the mouthpiece of management for
communicating its ideas, plans and policies to the
workers and employees.
At the same time, they have to play the role of
principal spokesmen of their subordinates to
communicate their feelings and grievances to the
management. Thus, it is only the supervisor who, as a
member of the management team, is capable of
developing links to workers. Supervisors are expected
to maintain the best and friendly relations with their
seniors as well as with the workers and enjoy the trust
and confidence of both management and operatives.
MOTIVATION
Motivation is one of the important elements of
directing. Issuance of proper instructions or orders
does not necessarily ensure that they will be properly
carried out. It requires manager to inspire or induce
the employees to act and get the expected result.
This is called motivation. It is a force that inspire a
person at work to intensify his willingness to use the
best of his capability for achievement of specify
objectives. It may be in the form of incentives like
financial (such as bonus, commission etc.) or, non-
financial (such as appreciation, growth etc.), or it
could be positive or negative. Basically, motivation is
directed towards goals and prompt people to act.
 IMPORTANCE :
• With proper motivation there can be maximum utilization of
the factors of production like men, money, material etc.;
• If employees are motivated it will reduce employee turnover
and absenteeism;
• Motivation fosters a sense of belongingness among the
employees towards the organization and also improves their
morale;
• Motivation helps in reducing the number of complaints and
grievances. The wastage and accident rate also come down;
• With proper motivational techniques management can attract
competent and best quality employees.
 LEADERSHI
P
While motivation is the process through which
employees are made to contribute voluntarily to
work, leadership is the ability to persuade and
motivate others to work in a desired way for
achieving the goal. Thus, a person who is able to
influence others and make them follow his
instructions is called a leader. For example, in
an organization the management decides to
install some new machines to which the workers
are resisting.
However, one of the workers takes the initiative,
explains the fellow workers the benefits of working
with the new machines and molds them to accept
the management’s decision. Now he is said to be
leader as he is able to influence a group of workers
who followed him. In practice, the managers have to
guide and lead their subordinates towards the
achievement of goals, and so, to be an effective, a
manager has to be a good leader. Leadership is the
process, which influences the people and inspires
them to willingly accomplish the organizational
objectives. The main purpose of managerial
leadership is to get willing cooperation of the
workgroup in pursuit of the goals.
 IMPORTANCE
: Leaders can motivate the followers to work
•leadership improves the performance of the
employees.
and thereby increase their performance level.
•with continuous support and guidance, leaders are
able to build confidence among the followers, thereby
increasing speed and accuracy and decreasing wastage.
•with friendly and cooperative efforts the leader is able
to build employees’ morale which in turn contribute to
higher productivity.