There are different forms of communication and a particular form of communication is determined on the basis of the audience to whom we plan to communicate. So, it’s important to understand these various forms in order to hone one’s communication skills. For more such innovative content on management studies, join WeSchool PGDM-DLP Program: http://bit.ly/ZEcPAc

1. Forms of
Communication
Chapter 3

2. when speaking about communication it
is very important to be sure about
what kind of communication are we
speaking about, mainly: what type of
things are communicated, between
what agents, and with what kind of
results
Chapter 3

3. Communication takes many
forms according to the style of
expression, the occasion and
situation, the symbols and the
medium used as per the
relationship between the
persons involved and such other
factors
Chapter 3

4. The different forms of communication are:
One-way and Two way
Formal and Informal
Verbal and Non-Verbal
Chapter 3

5. The different forms of communication are:
Written and oral
Intrapersonal and Interpersonal
Internal and External
Chapter 3

6. The different forms of communication are:
Vertical and Horizontal
Group Communication
Mass Communication
Chapter 3

7. One-way and Two way
One - Way Communication
One - Way Communication Two - Way Communication
Two - Way Communication
Satisfied with low accuracy A high degree of accuracy
information is transferred in only one direction It is interactive.
Not concerned with frustration, confidence, Needs high confidence, low frustration and
and morale problems high morale
Wants to keep the amount of time involved in Not concerned with the amount of time the
communicating as low as possible process takes
Wants the process to appear neat and orderly Willing to pay the associated costs
Must be competent person because everyone is The communicators makes mistakes and
listening. these are pointed out by the feedback.
Can give the perception of being orderly How does the communicator handle the
because no one can question questions – do they become defensive
Can also give the perception that the person is The communicator has to differentiate where
confident and that the person will act on what each person is at which can be different
they perceive to be accurate information depending on the decoding of the receiver.
Chapter 3

8. One-way and Two way
Chapter 3

9. Formal and Informal
Formal Communication
Formal Communication Informal Communication
Informal Communication
Conservative language is used but It use un-official, mostly oral and less
contractions are avoided intimidating language and is conversational
Slang and colloquial terms, gestures and Gestures, movements, colloquial terms may be
movements are restrained used.
It is scheduled in advance & has prearranged It may be unscheduled, with random
participants and pre-set agenda participants, no pre-set agenda.
It moves along established “channels” of It encourages flow of new ideas
communication within the organization Being personal carries the enthusiasm rather
than dry, bureaucratic logic and allows two way
communication
It promotes a more open climate and fosters
harmonious relationship and co-operation
Chapter 3

10. Formal and Informal
Formal Communication
Formal Communication Informal Communication
Informal Communication
It is official, precisely written, saves Disadvantages: It is too flexible,
time and avoids the embarrassment of difficult to apply systematically, can
face to face contact when the subject is lead to spreading inaccurate
sensitive or painful. information and indiscriminating
Disadvantages: It is too rigid, worded disclosure of confidential information,
in bureaucratic jargon, takes time, money often colored by emotion that can
to produce, tends to be authoritarian and distort meaning and difficult to trace
being impersonal fails to motivate when enquiry is made.
employees Informal—telephone conversations,
Formal—letters, plans/reports, formal informal meetings (with “worker”), e-
meetings (with high ranking “officials”) mail
Chapter 3

11. Verbal and Non-verbal
Verbal Communication
Verbal Communication Non-Verbal Communication
Non-Verbal Communication
Communication by the use of Communication by using
words and language symbols
It can convey very complex ideas It includes everything that is
and is necessary for discussion and around the speaker as well as the
explanation body language
It is more controlled It is instinctive, largely
unconscious, and very difficult to
It is always accompanied by non- control
verbal
Chapter 3

12. Written and Oral
Written Communication
Written Communication Oral Communication
Oral Communication
It is to be used when the other It is more natural and
person is not present immediate
Long and complex messages are Both the parties should be
best conveyed in writing. present and attentive at the same
time
It can be preserved
It has the advantage of
immediate feedback and
opportunities to seek and give
clarification
Chapter 3

13. Intrapersonal and Interpersonal
Intrapersonal Communication
Intrapersonal Communication Interpersonal Communication
Interpersonal Communication
It is what goes within mind It is between two or more persons
Has a continuous flow of thought in It is the most important method of
mind building up and maintaining
Does not follow any particular relationships and of working
sequence together.
Many of this are at sub-conscious The intrapersonal communication
level of both persons affects their in
Thoughts, views, opinions and interpersonal communication.
attitudes are part of intrapersonal For better interpersonal
communication communication one has to develop
self awareness to deal with one’s
intrapersonal communication
Chapter 3

14. Intrapersonal and Interpersonal
Interpersonal Communication Is a Process
(Fluid rather than static---it doesn’t
happen in a vacuum)
Chapter 3

15. Internal and External
Internal Communication
Internal Communication External Communication
External Communication
Movement of messages within the Movement of messages from and to
organization is the internal outside are called external message
communication
It moves along the lines of authority, The style and tone of outgoing
upward and downward and also communication affects the
horizontal organization’s public image.
The style and quantity affect the
atmosphere in the organization The messages coming are to be
Informal communication in the properly documented, passed to the
organization is called the grapevine which concerned person and filed for future
moves horizontally for future references
Changes can be brought about in the
organization’s functioning by modifying
the style of internal communication
Chapter 3

16. Internal and External
Grapevine is nothing
but the informal communication in the organization
that moves horizontaly
Chapter 3

17. Vertical and Horizontal
Internal Communication
Internal Communication External Communication
External Communication
It moves along the lines of It moves between the persons
authority and hierarchy of equal status in the
organization
There are formal channels
in this communication It includes all the message that
move between person of equal
More formal status in the organization
Less formal
Chapter 3

18. Group Communication
Group Communication
It takes place in meeting helps in understanding a situation, exploring
possibilities and in solving problems because it allows a multiple point
of view. It gives the participants an over-view of the organization and
the issues discussed and enable them to appreciate other people’s point
of view. Multiple barriers operate in group communication. The
participants have to be committed to group decisions and activity. The
size of the group affects its communication. The minimum number is
three and the maximum for effective communication is ten, though
larger groups of up to fifteen can manage to have effective
communication
Chapter 3

19. Mass Communication
Mass Communication
Mass communication is a public communication is a one way
communication which includes messages disseminated by
radio, television, the press and the cinema. It is used for
circulating information and instruction to the people, for
disseminating information about themselves; for advertising;
and for propaganda. It has single source and multiple receivers,
the content is open to all, audiences are heterogeneous and it
can establish simultaneous contact with every large numbers of
people at a distance from the source and widely separated from
one another.
Chapter 3

20. “Nothing is so simple that it cannot be
misunderstood.”
Chapter 3