Communication is essential to maintaining healthy relationships between individuals within an organization, regardless of their hierarchical position.
When there are differences in rank among employees, communication can become challenging due to several factors that affect their interactions. These include authority, competence, and emotional expression. This essay will examine how communicating across hierarchy challenges these assumptions and explores ways to overcome them.
Authority refers to the power possessed by one individual over another based on their organizational structure. In traditional workplaces, subordinates are expected to be obedient to their superiors without question. They must follow orders and avoid expressing disagreements openly. When subordinates communicate with their superior, they risk being labeled as disrespectful if they challenge their ideas or assert themselves too much.
This behavior can lead to misunderstandings and conflict because it creates a barrier between both parties. If subordinates do not feel comfortable voicing their opinions, creativity suffers, leading to missed opportunities for innovation.
Fear of repercussions may prevent them from asking questions or seeking clarification regarding instructions, resulting in mistakes and inefficiency.
Competence refers to the ability of an individual to perform a task effectively. It includes technical skills, knowledge, experience, and expertise. When communicating across hierarchy, supervisors tend to assume that their subordinates lack the necessary skills and knowledge to provide valuable input. This assumption leads to micromanagement and can stifle employee growth and development. Subordinates may also second-guess themselves, doubting their abilities and limiting their contributions. To overcome this challenge, supervisors should provide regular feedback and support their team members' professional development through training and mentorship programs. Encouraging collaboration and delegating tasks appropriately foster trust and increase competency.
Emotional expression involves expressing emotions verbally or nonverbally when interacting with others. Communicating across hierarchy can create challenges related to emotional expression due to power dynamics. Supervisors may suppress their feelings to appear authoritative and avoid appearing vulnerable, while subordinates may struggle to express themselves freely without fear of retaliation. This dynamic prevents open communication and limits empathy, which can result in miscommunications and mistrust. Incorporating emotional intelligence into communication practices encourages honest and transparent dialogue. Empathetic listening and active listening techniques help build trust between parties.
Communication across hierarchy challenges assumptions about authority, competence, and emotional expression. Addressing these issues requires creating a safe environment where both parties feel comfortable expressing themselves freely without fear of repercussions. Providing opportunities for feedback and collaboration, promoting emotional intelligence, and valuing each other's opinions and experiences are essential steps towards overcoming these obstacles. By doing so, organizations can improve relationships, productivity, and innovation within the workplace.
How does communication across hierarchy challenge assumptions about authority, competence, and emotional expression?
Communication across hierarchical levels can be challenging because it involves different perspectives and experiences that can lead to misunderstandings, miscommunications, and conflicts. When one communicates with someone who is above them in rank or status, they may feel intimidated, anxious, or hesitant to express themselves fully. On the other hand, when someone communicates with someone below them, they might assume that their ideas are better or more valuable than others' opinions.