Directing means telling the people in an organization what to do and ensuring that they do it to the best of their capabilities. The three principles of directing are:

a. Unity of Command: Unity of command means that an employee in an organisation must receive instructions only from one superior. It follows the principle of a single boss.. If an employee recieves instructions from more than one superior, it might create confusion, conflict, and disorder in the organisation Effective direction can be promoted through. this principle.

b. Harmony of objectives: The objectives of employees as an individual may often conflict the objetives of the organisation. For example, an employee may expect to receive a high amount of attractive salary and monetary benefits to fulfill his personal needs. The organisation may focus on improving its productivity and earning a higher profit. A good form of directing is the one which provides a harmony among the two objectives.

c. Appropriateness of direction technique: It means that the superior in an organisation must employ appropriate motivational and leadership technique while directing the people. It must be based on subordinate needs, capabilities, attitudes and other situational variables. For example, for some people, money can act as a powerful motivator while for others promotion may act as an effective motivator.