Points that emphasize the importance of directing in an organisation are: 1. Initiates Actions 2. Integrates Employees’ Efforts 3. Means of Motivation 4. Facilitates Changes 5. Balance in the Organisation!
Directing not only initiates all the actions in an organisation but also integrates efforts of the people for achieving the organisational goals. Under directing, managers not only instruct the workers regarding what they have to do, when they have to do or how they have to do, but they also see to it that their instructions are followed in right way by the workers.
The following points emphasize the importance of directing:
1. Initiates Actions:
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It helps in initiating actions of people towards achieving organisational goals. Other functions preceding directing like planning, organizing, staffing etc. aim really at the creation of desired environment and resources.
Actual actions are initiated only when managers direct their subordinates. The employees in an organization start working when they get instructions from their superiors. Thus, directing function guides and motivates selected employees to commence their work by following the instructions.
2. Integrates Employees’ Efforts:
Directing ensures integration of employees’ efforts towards attainment of organisational goals. In any organisation, the jobs of subordinates are usually interrelated and performance of each individual is affected by the performance of others.
Through directing, management directs the subordinates regarding what, when and how they should do the planned work so that desired results may be achieved. Directing coordinates and integrates the efforts of employees working at different levels and in different job positions through supervision. Resultantly, effectiveness and efficiency follow and the planned results are easily achieved.
3. Means of Motivation:
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Through motivation and effective leadership, directing helps the employees to realize their full potential.
4. Facilitates Changes:
To cope up with the changes in the business environment, directing function guides, initiates and motivates employees in such a manner that helps them to accept the changes willingly. Thus, changes can be incorporated and implemented through directing. For example, a company wants to computerize its accounting system but the employees hesitate to accept it, as they are unable to handle the computers.
Through directing function, employees are advised that they will be trained appropriately to use different software’s for accounting. Thus, they will find computers to be useful not only for the organisation but also for themselves. This is how through proper guidance, they become self motivated and happily accept the changes.
5. Balance in the Organisation:
Directing helps in establishing cooperation and commitment among the people. Thus it helps to bring stability and balance in the organisation. Individual objectives of employees should not clash with the organisational objectives. Directing function instructs, guides, supervises and inspires the employees in such a manner that enables them to maintain balance between individual goals and organisational goals.
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For example, a Sales Manager is of the opinion that the price of a product be reduced so that more orders can be generated whereas. General Manager feels that by reducing the price, total profit will be reduced. In such a situation, directing function may try to balance both the opinions by instructing and guiding say the Sales Manager to find out other ways of increasing sales.