Breaking the Barrier to Upward Communication: Strategies and Skills for Employees, Managers, and HR Specialists - Hardcover

by Thad B. Green (Author), Jay Knippen (Author)

Much has been written about communicating within organizations but relatively little on the critical skill of communicating upward. Green and Knippen, experts in employee motivation and performance, show how essential it is to the success of an organization, public or private, for employees to get their ideas up the ladder and into the hands of the top decision-makers. Their book outlines more than 40 specific upward communication needs and offers a structure that will ensure that the movement of ideas upward actually takes place. Unique in that it provides concrete advice for executives, managers, and employees alike, the book is especially important for human resource specialists, people engaged in training and developing the managers of tomorrow and contributing to the organization's success today.

Green and Knippen are quick to identify the barriers to communication of any kind, and particularly the special barriers that inhibit the flow of ideas upward. They provide readers with concrete advice, not only on what to communicate upward but the essential skills of how to do it. They maintain that knowing both what to communicate and how to communicate are the most crucial talents that one can have, and yes, they can be taught. But not only do they help people in their careers, they also help people take control of their lives off the job as well. Those who want to improve these essential skills and in doing so get along better with people in higher level positions will find much wisdom here, in a readable, engaging presentation, and a thoughtful look at what they must do first, and do now.

Author Biography

THAD B. GREEN is a consultant, former college professor, and author of 11 previous books and more than 100 journal articles and research papers. Three of his books have been published by Quorum: Performance and Motivation Strategies for Today's Workforce (1992), Developing and Leading Sales Organization (1998), and Motivation. Beliefs, and Organizational Transformation (1999, with Raymond T. Butkus) Considered by many of the foremost authority on on motivation and performance in the United States, he lists among his many clients such companies as AT&T, Lucent Technologies, Delta Air Lines, and Metropolitan Life Insurance. He is founder and principal of The Belief System Institute, specializing in employee motivation strategies and ways to enhance performance.

JAY T. KNIPPEN is Professor of Management, College of Business Administration, University of South Florida, Tampa. Author of more than 80 articles on managing effectively, he has conducted management training programs for more than 30,000 managers, supervisors, and employees.