The important principles or guidelines for achieving better human relations in an organisation have been briefly discussed below:
The ability to treat the employee as a human being, to gain mutual respect and understanding to have his trust, to win his cooperation without any command or coercion are among the essential qualities that characterise the truly successful supervisor.
In order to function effectively on the human relations front, a manager should be impartial, open- minded and fair in dealing with the everyday problems of his work group if he is impartial and fair his decision will not involve resentment for a long period even in the minds of those against whom the decisions go. He must be easily approachable to his workers and listen to their problems with care and sympathy. Besides, the manager must stick to his promises.
(i) Positive attitudes:
The manager should judge every member of the group by his good qualities. Goals are achieved by positive attitude and not by emphasising lack of skill and ability.
(ii) Clear Instructions:
Clear, precise and complete instructions must be given by a superior to his subordinates. He should leave nothing to chance. He should communicate effectively with his group on the work to be done, how it is to be done and what resources are to be used.
(iii) Personal contact:
The manager should make every personal contact constructive and helpful. His efforts should be directed to help members of the group to attain their goals.
(iv) Open communication:
There should be two-way communication between the management and the workers. There should be complete freedom for the workers to express their views and grievances.
(v) Teamwork:
Teamwork and unity must be achieved by eliminating opposition of interests among the members of the group. The common motives must be found out for this purposes and they should be reconciled with the overall objectives of the organisation.
(vi) Group participation:
Human relations are good when every worker participates in planning and decision-making. Plans should satisfy various groups and eliminate objections from the workers in a way that the objectives are attained easily and the interests of the workers are well protected.
Moreover, there is a significant change in the behaviour of a person when he acts as a member of a group than as an individual. Therefore, proper use should be made of group dynamics in the plant.