For the attainment of organizational objectives, following guiding principles have been developed:
1. Maximum Individual Contribution:
According to this principle, directing must help an individual in an organisation to contribute his full potential for the attainment of organisational goals. For example, a good motivation plan with suitable monetary and non- monetary rewards helps in motivating the employees to contribute their full potential for the organisation.
2. Harmony of Objectives:
Individual objectives of employees and organisational objectives are very often conflicting with each other. For example, an employee may demand good salary and other monetary benefits while the business enterprise wants to earn maximum profits.
Good directing helps in creating harmony of objectives by making the employees realise that their reward is directly related to their efficiency i.e. they can get good salary etc. fund only if the organisation achieves its profit budget.
3. Unity of Command:
According to this principle, one subordinate should receive instructions only from one superior. If a subordinate is made to receive instruction from more than one superior, there would be confusion, conflict and disorder in an organisation.
4. Appropriateness of Direction Technique:
While directing the people, appropriate direction technique should be adopted according to individual’s need, ability, attitude and the situation. For example, for some individuals monetary rewards act as great motivators while for some promotion may be a powerful motivator to perform well.
5. Managerial Communication:
In order to make direction effective, managerial communication across all the levels in the organisation is required. Managerial communication helps in making direction effective.
Clear instructions should be provided to the subordinates for increasing their understanding. Moreover, in order to ensure that the subordinate has understood the instructions, the manager should ensure proper feedback too.
6. Use of Informal Organisation:
Informal organisations exist within every formal organisation. Hence, every manager should make use of such organisation for effective directing.
7. Leadership:
While providing instructions and guidance to the subordinates, the managers should act as leader in order to influence the subordinates in a positive manner without causing any dissatisfaction among them.
8. Follow through:
Only giving instructions to the subordinates is not enough. The managers are required to review regularly whether the instructions are being followed and implemented or not, or if any problems are being encountered. They should make sufficient changes in the directions if the subordinates have faced any problem.