Chapter 14: Horizontal Communication

In chapter fourteen the idea that resonated with me the most is Horizontal Communication. In the textbook the authors, Kreitner and Kinicki define it as the flow among coworkers and between different work units and its main purpose is coordination. “During this sideways communication, employees share information and best practices, coordinate work activities and schedules, solve problems, offer advice and coaching, and resolve conflicts” (Kreitner and Kinicki 418). Good communication allows everyone to feel involved and useful in every task that is performed. Communication is essential; it is important to talk within your group to help better understand positions in order to see what goals need to be met. If someone is confused, it is vital that they get the information they need in order to do their portion of the work. If one person is down in the group, the group as a whole is down since it’s all about the team as opposed to the individual work.

In a research study conducted by Teresa Calendrillo, she focuses on the Standards for Establishing and Sustaining Healthy Work Environments by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). It emphasizes that the essential element in an effective team work is horizontal communication. It also stresses that the role of the nurse leader is to maintain the relationships between team members by offering knowledge, supplies, mentoring support, and tools needed to facilitate patient care. It notes that the team building sessions include personality assessment, horizontal hostility in-service, conflict management presentations, customer service seminar, and generational awareness session. As a result, no productive work or good work can be accomplished without a strong team work among any profession such as nursing or business.

Source: Calendrillo, Teresa. "Team building for a healthy work environment." Nursing Management 40.12 (2009): 9-12. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 12 Apr. 2010.