Methods of Communication

The importance of the two-way nature of communication in which the success of the process depends heavily upon the sender receiving feedback. The sender requires assurance that his / her points are being received and understood, e.g., on a notice board, if a petition has been put up, the group organising the petition need others to put their name on the petition to give feedback, and show that the message is being spread across. It is the use of a common system of symbols, signs and behaviour in exchange for information, ideas and emotions.

Communication Process

SENDER --> MESSAGE --> VISUAL / ORAL / WRITTEN -->RECIPIENT

Example:

Sender Recipient
Teacher Students
Manager Employees

The small number of employees in a small organisation means that most of the communication is informal. In a larger business, communication becomes more formal as each employee / worker will come into personal contact with few others outside their own area of work. There are lots of different types of communication. Some of them combine with other methods as both types of communication can be used.

Formal: Communications which are routed through what have been known as ‘official channels,’ for example, a written memorandum from a managing director to his / her departmental heads to call a meeting.

Informal: Information is passed on by word of mouth among interested colleagues who have received it from various sources e.g. visits.

Diagonal: There is no obvious line of authority through which a middle manager may want a service or job to be done.

Vertical: The principal channel for routing directions, instructions and policies from top decision makers down through the organisation to the people, who at various levels will implement them.

Verbal: Includes speaking to another person over the telephone, face to face etc, in a discussion, debate, interview, presentation etc.

Non – verbal: There is no spoken language e.g., eye contact, body language, sign language etc.

Visual: When information is displayed in various ways e.g., tables, advertisements etc.

Written: When the message being sent is displayed in writing, e.g. email, letters, fax etc.

Internal and external are another two methods of communication. There are various methods of internal communication, which can be used in an organisation. These include notices, bulletins, newsletters, tannoy, fax, letters, telephone, memos, communication by computer, face to face, reports, memorandums etc.