Question

Explain in your own words the four myths of the manager's job. 2. According to Mintzberg, what percentage of CEO communication is verbal versus written? 3. Mintzberg tied this reliance on verbal communication to a reluctance to delegate. Why did he make this link? 4. According to Mintzberg managers tend to pay the most attention to "soft communication". What is "soft communication?" Why do CEOs pay so much attention to it?

Answer 1

Mintzberg identified four myths about the manager's job, including the belief that managerial work is rational and sequential, reflective and systematic, specialized and separate, and primarily about directing and controlling. According to Mintzberg, 70-90% of CEO communication is non-verbal, emphasizing the importance of interpersonal skills. The reliance on verbal communication is tied to a reluctance to delegate, as it allows for immediate feedback and control.

Four Myths of the Manager's Job:

Managerial Work is Rational and Sequential: Contrary to the belief that managers follow a logical and sequential process, their work is often fragmented, varied, and unpredictable.

Managerial Work is Reflective and Systematic: Managers don't have the luxury of long periods of reflection; their work is often quick, fragmented, and requires rapid decision-making.

Managerial Work is Specialized and Separate from Other Work: Managerial work involves a broad spectrum of activities that overlap with various organizational functions, rather than being confined to a specific, isolated domain.

Management Involves Directing and Controlling: While control is a part of management, it's just one facet. Managers also engage in a variety of other activities, including networking, leading, and dealing with disturbances.

Verbal vs. Written Communication:

According to Mintzberg, about 70-90% of CEO communication is non-verbal, while only 10-30% is written. This indicates that a significant portion of a CEO's communication occurs through spoken words, emphasizing the importance of interpersonal skills and direct interaction in the managerial role.

Link between Verbal Communication and Reluctance to Delegate:

Mintzberg suggested that the reliance on verbal communication is tied to a reluctance to delegate. Verbal communication allows for immediate feedback and clarification, which might be perceived as more efficient than written communication. In situations where control is desired, managers might prefer direct verbal communication to ensure that their instructions are clearly understood and followed.

"Soft Communication" and CEO Attention:

"Soft communication" refers to the interpersonal and relational aspects of communication, such as body language, tone, and emotional expression. CEOs pay significant attention to soft communication because it influences relationships, trust, and organizational culture. Understanding and managing the emotional and relational dynamics within the organization are crucial for effective leadership.

Answer 2

Management myths often misrepresent the real nature of managerial work, which is heavily reliant on verbal communication, as found by Mintzberg who links it to a reluctance to delegate. Soft communication is important to CEOs for its ability to convey nuanced information about organizational dynamics.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Four Myths of the Manager's Job

Though the question does not explicitly outline what the four myths of the manager's job are, generally, they might refer to common misconceptions about the managerial role, such as managers being seen as reflective, systematic planners, the belief that effective managers need not to have regular tasks, that they need long, uninterrupted blocks of time to make decisions, or that senior managers are more heavily involved in the strategic direction of the organization than in its day-to-day operations.

CEO Communication: Verbal vs Written

Henry Mintzberg, a renowned management researcher, suggests that a large portion of a CEO's communication is verbal. Though there is not a specific percentage mentioned here, Mintzberg's studies generally show that upwards of 75% to 90% of communication by managers can be verbal.

Reluctance to Delegate

Mintzberg linked this reliance on verbal communication with a reluctance to delegate tasks because verbal communication can be more direct and immediate, allowing CEOs to maintain control over information and decisions.

Soft Communication

Soft communication refers to informal, nuanced, and often non-verbal interactions. CEOs may pay attention to soft communication because it helps them to understand the subtleties and complexities of organizational relationships and dynamics, which are crucial for effective leadership.