Directing Meaning
In case of movies if story of movie is good, actors are good, screenplay is good but if the director is bad then chances of that movie being good are less as without good direction no movie can succeed, same is the case with management where if management has all the qualities but he or she lacks directing capabilities than chances are he or she will be a bad manager. Directing in simple words refers to that activity in which managers guides as well as oversee that workers perform their predetermined tasks efficiently and effectively. In order to understand more about this concept, one should look at some of the important characteristics of directing –
Characteristics of Directing
Initiates Action
In case of movies, it is the director who says action before any take same applies to the management because it is the manager who has to take steps to initiate an action or set the ball rolling as far company is concerned. In simple words, unless manager does not take action than all plans no matter how carefully and accurately they are being made will fail and that is the reason why directing function plays a key role as far activities of the manager is concerned.
Continuous Process
This is a continuous process and it does not matter who is the manager and who are the employees as this activity keeps going till the company is in business. In simple words when the owner of a listed company dies then the company does not shut down rather it keeps going in the same way with the change in management personnel there is no change in directing activity rather it keeps going on.
Present at Every Level
If you are thinking that this function of management is performed by only top management then you are wrong because this function is present at every level of management whether its lower level or middle level or upper level and that is the reason why one can easily assume that wherever there will be manager and worker relationship this function will be at play.
Follow Through
Directing is not all about giving orders and taking it for granted that your orders will be followed rather good manager is one who ensures that his or her orders are being implemented properly by constantly following up with people to whom he or she has given an order.
Top to Bottom Route
The route of directing will always be from top to bottom and not the other way round as it is the manager or boss who gives direction to the subordinates or employees and not the other way round. In simple words just like the river flows downstream and not upstream in the same way directing flows from top to bottom.
As one can see from the above that directing is more about motivating and leadership skill of the leader or manager and that is the reason why it is one of the main functions of the management and no manager or leader can succeed if he or she does not perform the function of directing properly.