💬 Types of Communication
Big Idea: Communication is the transfer of information from a sender to a receiver. Effective communication ensures the message is understood and acted upon. Poor communication leads to misunderstandings, mistakes and conflict.
Main types
- Verbal communication -- spoken words (meetings, phone calls, presentations). Quick and allows immediate feedback, but no permanent record
- Written communication -- text (emails, reports, memos, letters). Provides a permanent record and can reach many people, but slower and no immediate feedback
- Visual communication -- images, charts, graphs, videos. Effective for presenting data and complex information clearly
- Digital communication -- electronic channels (email, video calls, instant messaging, social media, intranet). Fast and can reach global audiences, but can be impersonal
Direction of communication
- Downward -- from managers to subordinates (instructions, policies, feedback). Top-down
- Upward -- from subordinates to managers (reports, suggestions, feedback, complaints). Bottom-up
- Horizontal/lateral -- between employees at the same level (coordination between departments, teamwork)
- External -- between the business and outside parties (customers, suppliers, government, media)
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Formal communication
- Follows official channels -- through the chain of command or official procedures
- Examples: board meetings, official emails, reports, company announcements
- Advantages: clear, professional, creates records, consistent message
- Disadvantages: slow, may feel impersonal, can be filtered or distorted through layers
Informal communication
- Happens outside official channels -- casual conversations, the 'grapevine'
- Examples: chats by the coffee machine, WhatsApp groups, social conversations
- Advantages: fast, builds relationships, can reveal issues early
- Disadvantages: unreliable (rumours), no record, message may be distorted, can undermine formal channels
In exam answers about communication, always consider the DIRECTION (up/down/lateral) and whether it is formal or informal. Both affect how effectively messages are received and understood.