NATURE OF DIRECTING

• DIRECTING - A process in which the managers instruct, guide, communicate, inspire, motivate, and oversee the performance of the workers to achieve predetermined goals; it is the heart of the management process; planning, organizing, and staffing have no importance if this does not take place; it is a continuous process initiated at the top level and flows to the bottom through the organizational hierarchy.
• 10 NATURE OF DIRECTING - PERVASIVE FUNCTION, EXECUTIVE FUNCTION, HUMAN FACTOR, CONTINUOUS ACTIVITY, CREATIVE ACTIVITY, DELEGATES FUNCTION, FLOW FROM TOP TO BOTTOM LEVEL, FACILITATES COORDINATION, DUAL OBJECTIVE, PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTOR.
• PERVASIVE FUNCTION - Nature of directing; transpires from the top level of management to lower level subordinates of the organization; managers provide orders to the supervisors, while the supervisors guide and direct their subordinates.
• EXECUTIVE FUNCTION - Nature of directing; directing function is carried out by all managers and executives at all levels throughout the organization; subordinates always gets instructions from his/her superior only.
• HUMAN FACTOR - Nature of directing; directing function is related to human beings; this factor is complex and behavior is unpredictable, direction function becomes important.
• CONTINUOUS ACTIVITY - Nature of directing; directing is continuous activity as it continues throughout the life of an organization; process will not end with giving directions as s/he has to guide and motivate them continuously so that the desired goals can be achieved.
• CREATIVE ACTIVITY - Nature of directing; helps in converting plans into performance; manager needs to have creative and innovative thinking; with new ideas and techniques and make their performance better.
• DELEGATES FUNCTION - Nature of directing; involves assigning authority to other members of the organization.
• FLOW FROM TOP TO BOTTOM LEVEL - Nature of directing; includes providing instructions that flow from top to bottom. It starts with top-level management and ends with subordinates at the lower level.
• FACILITATES COORDINATION - Nature of directing; brings harmony among employees and balance between all the activities of an organization. Managers have to provide directions accordingly and work towards the achievement of organizational objectives.
• DUAL OBJECTIVE - Nature of directing; directing functions works in dual forms. It aims at getting things done by the subordinates. It provides an opportunity for the managers to prove their leadership qualities.
• PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTOR - Nature of directing; includes dealing with people's feelings, emotions, etc. The manager has to care that these feelings and emotions should not get hurt.