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12 Types of Communication

types of communication, explained below

Communication can be separated into many different categories or ‘types’. Generally, we categorize it into the four main mediums of communication: verbal, nonverbal, written, and visual.

However, we can also look at other ways to distil communication into categories, such as: informal vs formal, synchronous vs asynchronous, and intrapersonal vs interpersonal.

Below, each of the main types of communucation are introduced with a definition, examples, and brief table exploring the type’s strengths and weaknesses.

Types of Communication

1. nonverbal communication.

Nonverbal communication refers to any form of communication that is not transmitted through spoken word.

It can include body language, facial expressions, gestures, posture, passive communication strategies , and even what you wear (which can send signals about your cleanliness, social class , etc.).

But under this banner we also have other types of communuication listed below, including written and visual communication. Generally, however, when referring to nonverbal communication we tend to be talking about body language cues.

We can communicate and receive a lot of important information through nonverbal cues. This is why face-to-face communication (where you can see facial expressions, etc) leads to far less confusion than text messages or other low context means of communication that lack contextual cues.

In everyday communication events, we observer other people’s nonverbal cues as a form of perception checking , which involves seeing if their nonverbal communication matches their overt verbal communication, which can help to affirm that you are understanding the person effectively.

  • Facial expressions: Smiling, frowning, raising eyebrows, furrowing brow, rolling eyes, etc.
  • Gestures: Hand gestures, head nods, shrugging shoulders, pointing, etc.
  • Posture: Standing tall, slouching, leaning forward or backward, crossing arms, etc.
  • Eye contact: Direct eye contact, avoiding eye contact, staring, glancing, etc.
  • Touch: Handshakes, hugs, pats on the back, etc.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Go Deeper: Nonverbal Communication (Full Guide)

2. Verbal Communication

Verbal communication is any form of communication that occurs through spoken word. Its key strength is that it tends to be perceived as a trusted and authentic form of communication.

For example, people often want to talk to or hear from a real human when making an expensive purchase or big decision in their lives.

While face-to-face verbal communication also has the benefit of allowing for two-way dialogue between interlocutors, in our current era, verbal communication can also be one-way, such as through podcasts or videos.

Verbal communication tends to also have high-context elements to help with clarity of messages, such as tone of voice, pitch, and urgency.

Verbal communication skills are often taught at school, and mastery of effective verbal (and especially public) communication can be seen as a valuable skill in the workplace. Effective verbal communication requires not only the ability to articulate one’s thoughts and ideas clearly but also convey those thoughts with confidence in a variety of contexts.

  • Conversations: Speaking with others in person, over the phone, or through video conferencing.
  • Presentations: Delivering speeches, lectures, video conferences, or other formal talks to an audience.
  • Written correspondence: Communicating through letters, emails, memos, text messages, or other written forms of communication.
  • Face-to-Face Interviews: Answering questions posed by a potential employer in a face-to-face interview context.
  • Video and Podcast: Video and podcast media generally also contain verbal communication, such as a person telling a story or a recording of a conversation between characters.

Go Deeper: Verbal Communication (Full Guide)

3. Visual Communication

Visual communication means the transfer of information to a person in a format that can be read or viewed.

Such formats include physical objects and models, charts, cards, tables, photos, videos, drawings, and diagrams.

According to Gophinatan (2022), “…visual communication is the transmission of information and ideas using symbols and imagery” (p. 87).

It’s considered a sub-type of nonverbal communication.

Visual communication is a prevalent form of communication in the 21st Century. It’s a preferred medium for advertising as well as for storytelling (e.g. film) and social media entertainment.

  • Infographics: Presenting complex information, data, or knowledge in a visually engaging and easy-to-understand format using charts, graphs, and illustrations.
  • Slide Presentations: Conveying information, ideas, or concepts through a combination of text, images, and design elements in a slideshow format, often during meetings or conferences.
  • Graphs and Charts: Visualizing data, trends, or comparisons through various graphical representations such as bar charts, pie charts, line graphs, and flowcharts.
  • Videos and Animations: Using moving images, graphics, and visual storytelling techniques to convey a message or concept in an engaging and informative manner.
  • Graphic Design and Branding: Employing design elements like logos, color schemes, and typography to create a visual identity for a product, company, or organization, which can be consistently applied across various media and platforms.

Go Deeper: Visual Communication (Full Guide)

4. Written Communication

Written communication involves the use of words, sentences, and paragraphs encoded in text in order to communicate.

Its primary benefit is that it is clearly and unambiguously recorded and saved, and can be looked back upon at a later date to determine what exactly was said.

Prior to the advent of audiovisual recording devices, written text was the key format for recording data. Today, it is still used for legal purposes, such as when we must sign and keep legal documents.

  • Emails and Letters: Exchanging information, ideas, or requests through written messages in a formal or informal tone, sent electronically or through postal services.
  • Reports and Documents: Compiling research, analysis, or project updates into structured written formats to inform, persuade, or provide recommendations to an audience.
  • Blog Posts and Articles: Sharing knowledge, opinions, or experiences on a specific topic through written content published on websites, newspapers, or magazines.
  • Books and eBooks: Conveying narratives, ideas, or educational content in a longer written format, distributed in print or digitally for readers to consume and engage with.
  • Academic Writing : This is used to present facts and evidence in the form of essays, research papers, and other publications. Academic writing is often used in the fields of higher education and research.

Go Deeper: Written Communication (Full Guide)

5. Intrapersonal Communication

Intrapersonal communication is an individual’s own personal dialogue and reflection within themselves (Liddicoat & Scarino, 2013).

It is a form of metacognition that’s beneficial for self-improvement and self-reflection. This internal dialogue helps people to understand themselves better.

Debasis (2009) states that in intrapersonal communication:

“…the individual communicates in his mind through the process of thinking and feeling” (p. 13). 

Control over our intrapersonal communication is important, however. For example, we need to silence our inner voice when trying to sleep, or if it leads to excessive negative self-talk.

  • Self-Reflection : Engaging in an internal dialogue to assess one’s thoughts, emotions, or actions in a specific situation or over time.
  • Goal Setting: Identifying personal objectives and desired outcomes, along with outlining a plan to achieve those targets through internal communication.
  • Mental Rehearsals: Mentally practicing an upcoming task, speech, or performance in one’s mind to improve preparedness and reduce anxiety.
  • Mindfulness and Meditation: Focusing on the present moment, breathing, and internal sensations to cultivate self-awareness , emotional regulation, and mental clarity.
  • Daydreaming and Visualization: Using one’s imagination to explore scenarios, potential outcomes, or aspirations as a form of internal dialogue and problem-solving.

Go Deeper: Intrapersonal Communication (Full Guide)

6. Interpersonal Communication

Interpersonal communication simply refers to communication between two or more people. However, it is generally used to explain collaboration and group work.

The benefits of interpersonal communication include the development of strong relationships, the ability to achieve more together than alone, improved understanding of other peoples’ points of view, and the ability to resolve conflicts or disagreements.

Interpersonal skills are highly valuable in 21st Century workplaces. These are skills like the ability to mediate, lead a group, follow when necessary, influence others, and find common ground.

Examples of Interpersonal Communication

  • Casual Conversations: Engaging in informal dialogue with friends, family, or colleagues to share experiences, thoughts, and emotions.
  • Active Listening: Demonstrating empathy and understanding by attentively listening to another person’s ideas or concerns, and providing appropriate responses or feedback.
  • Conflict Resolution : Addressing disagreements or misunderstandings between individuals by discussing the issues, identifying solutions, and finding common ground.
  • Group Discussions: Collaborating with multiple individuals to exchange ideas, solve problems, or make decisions through open and respectful communication.
  • Nonverbal Communication: Conveying meaning or expressing emotions through body language, facial expressions, gestures, and tone of voice, in conjunction with verbal exchanges.

Go Deeper: Interpersonal Skills (Full Guide)

7. Mass Communication

Mass communication refers to communication at a social scale that is facilitated by broadcast media such as radio, television, or the internet.

It is believed that the emergence of the first form of mass communication in the 1500s – the printing press – led to the development of national cultures and identities (Anderson, 1987).

Mass communication is hugely beneficial for public health and safety, the spread of cultural values, and the spread of important news and information.

However, it has been widely critiqued for being controlled and gatekept by cultural elites. In the world of Web 2.0 and beyond, it’s also criticized for having the capacity to spread misinformation on a mass scale.

  • Newspapers: For many centuries, daily and weekly newspapers were the key way in which people received current affairs information.
  • Books: Often under-recognized, books are still one of the major forms of mass communication. The Bible, for example, was responsible for the spread of Christianity worldwide.
  • Radio: Radio gives people instant access to audio information and entertainment. In its era, it was revolutionary. Radio’s primary limitation is lack of visual communication. Before long, television came along to resolve this problem.
  • Television: Television was the first form of mass communication that has audiovisual properties – both visual and audio communication. It was also a big driver of shared national identity because popular programs tended to be broadcast nation-wide. It is in declined today, superseded by online video platforms.
  • Internet: The internet is today’s form of mass communication. Within it, we have mass communication platforms like social media platforms, YouTube, and websites.

Go Deeper: Mass Communications Theories (Full Guide)

8. Synchronous Communication

Synchronous communication refers to real-time interaction between individuals, allowing for immediate feedback and dynamic exchanges.

In the digital age, synchronous communication can occur through various channels, including in-person meetings, phone calls, video conferencing, and instant messaging platforms.

Synchronous communication allows for rapid problem-solving, collaboration, and increased understanding among participants by enabling instant clarification of ideas and immediate response to questions.

  • In-person meetings: Collaborating face-to-face to discuss ideas, share updates, or make decisions.
  • Phone calls: Engaging in real-time conversations to convey information, provide support, or build relationships.
  • Video conferences: Connecting remotely with others using audio and visual technologies to facilitate communication and collaboration.
  • Instant messaging: Exchanging text-based messages in real-time to quickly share information, ask questions, or coordinate activities.
  • Live chat support: Providing immediate assistance to customers or users through real-time text-based communication.

9. Asynchronous Communication

Asynchronous communication involves the exchange of messages or information without the requirement for participants to be simultaneously present or engaged.

This type of communication allows individuals to respond at their convenience, accommodating different schedules, time zones, and work styles.

Examples of asynchronous communication include emails, discussion boards, recorded video messages, and collaborative documents.

  • Emails: Sending and receiving messages with attachments, allowing recipients to respond at their convenience.
  • Discussion boards: Posting and replying to topics in online forums, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing.
  • Recorded video messages: Creating and sharing pre-recorded videos, providing visual information to be viewed at a later time.
  • Collaborative documents: Sharing and editing files with others asynchronously, enabling teamwork and collective input.
  • Social media posts: Crafting and sharing content, allowing followers to engage and respond in their own time.

10. Formal Communication

Formal communication refers to structured and professional exchanges that follow established rules, guidelines, and etiquette.

This type of communication is typically used in professional settings, official correspondences, or ceremonial events, and can include both verbal and written forms.

Formal communication often involves the use of proper language, clear structure, and respectful tone, ensuring clarity and credibility in the message being conveyed.

  • Business letters: Crafting well-structured and professionally formatted correspondence for official purposes.
  • Presentations: Delivering well-organized and polished speeches or lectures to an audience, using appropriate language and visual aids.
  • Reports: Writing comprehensive and coherent documents to present research findings, project updates, or policy recommendations.
  • Agendas and meeting minutes: Creating and distributing structured outlines of topics to be discussed, along with records of decisions and action items.
  • Formal invitations: Sending carefully crafted and elegantly designed invitations for events, such as weddings, conferences, or award ceremonies.

11. Informal Communication

Informal communication involves casual and spontaneous exchanges between individuals, often characterized by a relaxed tone and the use of colloquial language.

This type of communication typically occurs in personal conversations, friendly interactions, or social media engagements, and can include verbal, written, and nonverbal forms.

Informal communication allows for the expression of personal opinions, emotions, and experiences, fostering rapport and relationship-building among participants.

  • Casual conversations: Engaging in unstructured and relaxed dialogues with friends, family, or colleagues.
  • Text messages: Sending and receiving brief, colloquial messages to share updates, ask questions, or coordinate plans.
  • Social media comments: Interacting with others through likes, shares, and comments on various platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
  • Informal emails: Writing casual and conversational messages, often using abbreviated language and emoticons.
  • Comedy Shows: Comedians tend to employ informal communication in order to send signals to the audience that they are in a space designed to make light of social situatios.

12. Metacommunication

Metacommunication refers to communication about communication . It generally refers to statements or non-verbal cues during a conversation used to check in about how the conversation is going.

For example, you might pause to reflect on what you said by saying “did that make sense to you?” This specific type of metacommunication is called metacommentary .

Online, we see metacommuncation on social media such as twitter where there are warning comments giving context about the text that is being read.

There might be a flag saying some of the statements are contested or untrue; or, there might be a notice explaining the author of the text. This adds context to the text and allows you to understand more about what you’re reading.

  • Clarifying yourself: Saying in text or verbally, “that was a joke, by the way.”
  • Voice inflection: Going up at the end of a sentence can indicate you’re asking a question.
  • Metacommentary: Making a comment about what you’re saying, like, “wow, I’m going around in circles aren’t I?”.
  • Paraphrasing: After a long speech, consciously paraphrasing what you said to recap the key points.
  • Signposting: When giving a speech, starting by signposting what you will say and the order in which it will be said to help people follow your speech.

There are likely many other types of communication we can examine, but the above are some key examples of ways we have categorized communication in communications and media studies. These categories are useful to analyze how different approaches to communication have their own key strengths and weakesses.

Separating communication out into its various types also helps us to explore how different types of communication have risen to prominence depending upon the technology of the day. This sort of analysis can demonstrate how technologies have fundamentally shaped how societies communicate and, therefore, facilitated large-scale cultural change. To explore this idea that communication technologies shape societies and cultures, take a look at my article on technological determinism .

Chris

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

  • Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 50 Durable Goods Examples
  • Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 100 Consumer Goods Examples
  • Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 30 Globalization Pros and Cons
  • Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 17 Adversity Examples (And How to Overcome Them)

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Very interesting topic. I have learnt a lot about different types of communication and that there are a lot of different ways people can communicate with each other.

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1.1 Communication: History and Forms

Learning objectives.

  • Define communication.
  • Discuss the history of communication from ancient to modern times.
  • List the five forms of communication.
  • Distinguish among the five forms of communication.
  • Review the various career options for students who study communication.

Before we dive into the history of communication, it is important that we have a shared understanding of what we mean by the word communication . For our purposes in this book, we will define communication as the process of generating meaning by sending and receiving verbal and nonverbal symbols and signs that are influenced by multiple contexts. This definition builds on other definitions of communication that have been rephrased and refined over many years. In fact, since the systematic study of communication began in colleges and universities a little over one hundred years ago, there have been more than 126 published definitions of communication (Dance & Larson, 1976). In order to get a context for how communication has been conceptualized and studied, let’s look at a history of the field.

From Aristotle to Obama: A Brief History of Communication

While there are rich areas of study in animal communication and interspecies communication, our focus in this book is on human communication. Even though all animals communicate, as human beings we have a special capacity to use symbols to communicate about things outside our immediate temporal and spatial reality (Dance & Larson). For example, we have the capacity to use abstract symbols, like the word education , to discuss a concept that encapsulates many aspects of teaching and learning. We can also reflect on the past and imagine our future. The ability to think outside our immediate reality is what allows us to create elaborate belief systems, art, philosophy, and academic theories. It’s true that you can teach a gorilla to sign words like food and baby , but its ability to use symbols doesn’t extend to the same level of abstraction as ours. However, humans haven’t always had the sophisticated communication systems that we do today.

Some scholars speculate that humans’ first words were onomatopoetic. You may remember from your English classes that onomatopoeia refers to words that sound like that to which they refer—words like boing , drip , gurgle , swoosh , and whack . Just think about how a prehistoric human could have communicated a lot using these words and hand gestures. He or she could use gurgle to alert others to the presence of water or swoosh and whack to recount what happened on a hunt. In any case, this primitive ability to communicate provided an evolutionary advantage. Those humans who could talk were able to cooperate, share information, make better tools, impress mates, or warn others of danger, which led them to have more offspring who were also more predisposed to communicate (Poe, 2011). This eventually led to the development of a “Talking Culture” during the “Talking Era.” During this 150,000 year period of human existence, ranging from 180,000 BCE to 3500 BCE, talking was the only medium of communication, aside from gestures, that humans had (Poe, 2011).

The beginning of the “Manuscript Era,” around 3500 BCE, marked the turn from oral to written culture. This evolution in communication corresponded with a shift to a more settled, agrarian way of life (Poe, 2011). As hunter-gatherers settled into small villages and began to plan ahead for how to plant, store, protect, and trade or sell their food, they needed accounting systems to keep track of their materials and record transactions. While such transactions were initially tracked with actual objects that symbolized an amount—for example, five pebbles represented five measures of grain—symbols, likely carved into clay, later served as the primary method of record keeping. In this case, five dots might equal five measures of grain.

During this period, villages also developed class systems as more successful farmers turned businessmen prospered and took leadership positions. Religion also became more complex, and a new class of spiritual leaders emerged. Soon, armies were needed to protect the stockpiled resources from others who might want to steal it. The emergence of elite classes and the rise of armies required records and bookkeeping, which furthered the spread of written symbols. As clergy, the ruling elite, and philosophers began to take up writing, the systems became more complex. The turn to writing didn’t threaten the influential place of oral communication, however. During the near 5,000-year period of the “Manuscript Era,” literacy, or the ability to read and write, didn’t spread far beyond the most privileged in society. In fact, it wasn’t until the 1800s that widespread literacy existed in the world.

The end of the “Manuscript Era” marked a shift toward a rapid increase in communication technologies. The “Print Era” extended from 1450 to 1850 and was marked by the invention of the printing press and the ability to mass-produce written texts. This 400-year period gave way to the “Audiovisual Era,” which only lasted 140 years, from 1850 to 1990, and was marked by the invention of radio, telegraph, telephone, and television. Our current period, the “Internet Era,” has only lasted from 1990 until the present. This period has featured the most rapid dispersion of a new method of communication, as the spread of the Internet and the expansion of digital and personal media signaled the beginning of the digital age.

The evolution of communication media, from speaking to digital technology, has also influenced the field of communication studies. To better understand how this field of study developed, we must return to the “Manuscript Era,” which saw the production of the earliest writings about communication. In fact, the oldest essay and book ever found were written about communication (McCroskey, 1984). Although this essay and book predate Aristotle, he is a logical person to start with when tracing the development of the communication scholarship. His writings on communication, although not the oldest, are the most complete and systematic. Ancient Greek philosophers and scholars such as Aristotle theorized about the art of rhetoric , which refers to speaking well and persuasively. Today, we hear the word rhetoric used in negative ways. A politician, for example, may write off his or her opponent’s statements as “just rhetoric.” This leads us to believe that rhetoric refers to misleading, false, or unethical communication, which is not at all in keeping with the usage of the word by ancient or contemporary communication experts. While rhetoric does refer primarily to persuasive communication messages, much of the writing and teaching about rhetoric conveys the importance of being an ethical rhetor , or communicator. So when a communicator, such as a politician, speaks in misleading, vague, or dishonest ways, he or she isn’t using rhetoric; he or she is being an unethical speaker.

The study of rhetoric focused on public communication, primarily oratory used in discussions or debates regarding laws and policy, speeches delivered in courts, and speeches intended to praise or blame another person. The connections among rhetoric, policy making, and legal proceedings show that communication and citizenship have been connected since the study of communication began. Throughout this book, we will continue to make connections between communication, ethics, and civic engagement.

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Much of the public speaking in ancient Greece took place in courtrooms or in political contexts.

Karen Neoh – Courtroom – CC BY 2.0.

Ancient Greek rhetoricians like Aristotle were followed by Roman orators like Cicero. Cicero contributed to the field of rhetoric by expanding theories regarding the five canons of rhetoric, which include invention, arrangement, style, delivery, and memory. Invention refers to the use of evidence and arguments to think about things in new ways and is the most studied of the five canons. Arrangement refers to the organization of speech, style refers to the use of language, and delivery refers to the vocal and physical characteristics of a speaker. Memory is the least studied of the five canons and refers to the techniques employed by speakers of that era to retain and then repeat large amounts of information. The Age of Enlightenment in the 1700s marked a societal turn toward scientific discovery and the acquisition of knowledge, which led to an explosion of philosophical and scientific writings on many aspects of human existence. This focus on academic development continued into the 1900s and the establishment of distinct communication studies departments.

Communication studies as a distinct academic discipline with departments at universities and colleges has only existed for a little over one hundred years (Keith, 2008). Although rhetoric has long been a key part of higher education, and colleges and universities have long recognized the importance of speaking, communication departments did not exist. In the early 1900s, professors with training and expertise in communication were often housed in rhetoric or English departments and were sometimes called “professors of speech.” During this time, tension began to build between professors of English who studied rhetoric as the written word and professors of speech who studied rhetoric as the spoken word. In 1914, a group of ten speech teachers who were members of the National Council of Teachers of English broke off from the organization and started the National Association of Academic Teachers of Public Speaking, which eventually evolved into today’s National Communication Association. There was also a distinction of focus and interest among professors of speech. While some focused on the quality of ideas, arguments, and organization, others focused on coaching the performance and delivery aspects of public speaking (Keith, 2008). Instruction in the latter stressed the importance of “oratory” or “elocution,” and this interest in reading and speaking aloud is sustained today in theatre and performance studies and also in oral interpretation classes, which are still taught in many communication departments.

The formalization of speech departments led to an expanded view of the role of communication. Even though Aristotle and other ancient rhetoricians and philosophers had theorized the connection between rhetoric and citizenship, the role of the communicator became the focus instead of solely focusing on the message. James A. Winans, one of the first modern speech teachers and an advocate for teaching communication in higher education, said there were “two motives for learning to speak. Increasing one’s chance to succeed and increasing one’s power to serve” (Keith, 2008). Later, as social psychology began to expand in academic institutions, speech communication scholars saw places for connection to further expand definitions of communication to include social and psychological contexts.

Today, you can find elements of all these various aspects of communication being studied in communication departments. If we use President Obama as a case study, we can see the breadth of the communication field. Within one department, you may have fairly traditional rhetoricians who study the speeches of President Obama in comparison with other presidential rhetoric. Others may study debates between presidential candidates, dissecting the rhetorical strategies used, for example, by Mitt Romney and Barack Obama. Expanding from messages to channels of communication, scholars may study how different media outlets cover presidential politics. At an interpersonal level, scholars may study what sorts of conflicts emerge within families that have liberal and conservative individuals. At a cultural level, communication scholars could study how the election of an African American president creates a narrative of postracial politics. Our tour from Aristotle to Obama was quick, but hopefully instructive. Now let’s turn to a discussion of the five major forms of communication.

Forms of Communication

Forms of communication vary in terms of participants, channels used, and contexts. The five main forms of communication, all of which will be explored in much more detail in this book, are intrapersonal, interpersonal, group, public, and mass communication. This book is designed to introduce you to all these forms of communication. If you find one of these forms particularly interesting, you may be able to take additional courses that focus specifically on it. You may even be able to devise a course of study around one of these forms as a communication major. In the following we will discuss the similarities and differences among each form of communication, including its definition, level of intentionality, goals, and contexts.

Intrapersonal Communication

Intrapersonal communication is communication with oneself using internal vocalization or reflective thinking. Like other forms of communication, intrapersonal communication is triggered by some internal or external stimulus. We may, for example, communicate with our self about what we want to eat due to the internal stimulus of hunger, or we may react intrapersonally to an event we witness. Unlike other forms of communication, intrapersonal communication takes place only inside our heads. The other forms of communication must be perceived by someone else to count as communication. So what is the point of intrapersonal communication if no one else even sees it?

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Intrapersonal communication is communication with ourselves that takes place in our heads.

Sarah – Pondering – CC BY 2.0.

Intrapersonal communication serves several social functions. Internal vocalization, or talking to ourselves, can help us achieve or maintain social adjustment (Dance & Larson, 1972). For example, a person may use self-talk to calm himself down in a stressful situation, or a shy person may remind herself to smile during a social event. Intrapersonal communication also helps build and maintain our self-concept. We form an understanding of who we are based on how other people communicate with us and how we process that communication intrapersonally. The shy person in the earlier example probably internalized shyness as a part of her self-concept because other people associated her communication behaviors with shyness and may have even labeled her “shy” before she had a firm grasp on what that meant. We will discuss self-concept much more in Chapter 2 “Communication and Perception” , which focuses on perception. We also use intrapersonal communication or “self-talk” to let off steam, process emotions, think through something, or rehearse what we plan to say or do in the future. As with the other forms of communication, competent intrapersonal communication helps facilitate social interaction and can enhance our well-being. Conversely, the breakdown in the ability of a person to intrapersonally communicate is associated with mental illness (Dance & Larson, 1972).

Sometimes we intrapersonally communicate for the fun of it. I’m sure we have all had the experience of laughing aloud because we thought of something funny. We also communicate intrapersonally to pass time. I bet there is a lot of intrapersonal communication going on in waiting rooms all over the world right now. In both of these cases, intrapersonal communication is usually unplanned and doesn’t include a clearly defined goal (Dance & Larson, 1972). We can, however, engage in more intentional intrapersonal communication. In fact, deliberate self-reflection can help us become more competent communicators as we become more mindful of our own behaviors. For example, your internal voice may praise or scold you based on a thought or action.

Of the forms of communication, intrapersonal communication has received the least amount of formal study. It is rare to find courses devoted to the topic, and it is generally separated from the remaining four types of communication. The main distinction is that intrapersonal communication is not created with the intention that another person will perceive it. In all the other levels, the fact that the communicator anticipates consumption of their message is very important.

Interpersonal Communication

Interpersonal communication is communication between people whose lives mutually influence one another. Interpersonal communication builds, maintains, and ends our relationships, and we spend more time engaged in interpersonal communication than the other forms of communication. Interpersonal communication occurs in various contexts and is addressed in subfields of study within communication studies such as intercultural communication, organizational communication, health communication, and computer-mediated communication. After all, interpersonal relationships exist in all those contexts.

Interpersonal communication can be planned or unplanned, but since it is interactive, it is usually more structured and influenced by social expectations than intrapersonal communication. Interpersonal communication is also more goal oriented than intrapersonal communication and fulfills instrumental and relational needs. In terms of instrumental needs, the goal may be as minor as greeting someone to fulfill a morning ritual or as major as conveying your desire to be in a committed relationship with someone. Interpersonal communication meets relational needs by communicating the uniqueness of a specific relationship. Since this form of communication deals so directly with our personal relationships and is the most common form of communication, instances of miscommunication and communication conflict most frequently occur here (Dance & Larson, 1972). Couples, bosses and employees, and family members all have to engage in complex interpersonal communication, and it doesn’t always go well. In order to be a competent interpersonal communicator, you need conflict management skills and listening skills, among others, to maintain positive relationships.

Group Communication

Group communication is communication among three or more people interacting to achieve a shared goal. You have likely worked in groups in high school and college, and if you’re like most students, you didn’t enjoy it. Even though it can be frustrating, group work in an academic setting provides useful experience and preparation for group work in professional settings. Organizations have been moving toward more team-based work models, and whether we like it or not, groups are an integral part of people’s lives. Therefore the study of group communication is valuable in many contexts.

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Since many businesses and organizations are embracing team models, learning about group communication can help these groups be more effective.

RSNY – Team – CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Group communication is more intentional and formal than interpersonal communication. Unlike interpersonal relationships, which are voluntary, individuals in a group are often assigned to their position within a group. Additionally, group communication is often task focused, meaning that members of the group work together for an explicit purpose or goal that affects each member of the group. Goal-oriented communication in interpersonal interactions usually relates to one person; for example, I may ask my friend to help me move this weekend. Goal-oriented communication at the group level usually focuses on a task assigned to the whole group; for example, a group of people may be tasked to figure out a plan for moving a business from one office to another.

You know from previous experience working in groups that having more communicators usually leads to more complicated interactions. Some of the challenges of group communication relate to task-oriented interactions, such as deciding who will complete each part of a larger project. But many challenges stem from interpersonal conflict or misunderstandings among group members. Since group members also communicate with and relate to each other interpersonally and may have preexisting relationships or develop them during the course of group interaction, elements of interpersonal communication occur within group communication too. Chapter 13 “Small Group Communication” and Chapter 14 “Leadership, Roles, and Problem Solving in Groups” of this book, which deal with group communication, will help you learn how to be a more effective group communicator by learning about group theories and processes as well as the various roles that contribute to and detract from the functioning of a group.

Public Communication

Public communication is a sender-focused form of communication in which one person is typically responsible for conveying information to an audience. Public speaking is something that many people fear, or at least don’t enjoy. But, just like group communication, public speaking is an important part of our academic, professional, and civic lives. When compared to interpersonal and group communication, public communication is the most consistently intentional, formal, and goal-oriented form of communication we have discussed so far.

Public communication, at least in Western societies, is also more sender focused than interpersonal or group communication. It is precisely this formality and focus on the sender that makes many new and experienced public speakers anxious at the thought of facing an audience. One way to begin to manage anxiety toward public speaking is to begin to see connections between public speaking and other forms of communication with which we are more familiar and comfortable. Despite being formal, public speaking is very similar to the conversations that we have in our daily interactions. For example, although public speakers don’t necessarily develop individual relationships with audience members, they still have the benefit of being face-to-face with them so they can receive verbal and nonverbal feedback. Later in this chapter, you will learn some strategies for managing speaking anxiety, since presentations are undoubtedly a requirement in the course for which you are reading this book. Then, in Chapter 9 “Preparing a Speech” , Chapter 10 “Delivering a Speech” , Chapter 11 “Informative and Persuasive Speaking” , and Chapter 12 “Public Speaking in Various Contexts” , you will learn how to choose an appropriate topic, research and organize your speech, effectively deliver your speech, and evaluate your speeches in order to improve.

Mass Communication

Public communication becomes mass communication when it is transmitted to many people through print or electronic media. Print media such as newspapers and magazines continue to be an important channel for mass communication, although they have suffered much in the past decade due in part to the rise of electronic media. Television, websites, blogs, and social media are mass communication channels that you probably engage with regularly. Radio, podcasts, and books are other examples of mass media. The technology required to send mass communication messages distinguishes it from the other forms of communication. A certain amount of intentionality goes into transmitting a mass communication message since it usually requires one or more extra steps to convey the message. This may involve pressing “Enter” to send a Facebook message or involve an entire crew of camera people, sound engineers, and production assistants to produce a television show. Even though the messages must be intentionally transmitted through technology, the intentionality and goals of the person actually creating the message, such as the writer, television host, or talk show guest, vary greatly. The president’s State of the Union address is a mass communication message that is very formal, goal oriented, and intentional, but a president’s verbal gaffe during a news interview is not.

1.1.3N

Technological advances such as the printing press, television, and the more recent digital revolution have made mass communication a prominent feature of our daily lives.

Savannah River Site – Atmospheric Technology – CC BY 2.0.

Mass communication differs from other forms of communication in terms of the personal connection between participants. Even though creating the illusion of a personal connection is often a goal of those who create mass communication messages, the relational aspect of interpersonal and group communication isn’t inherent within this form of communication. Unlike interpersonal, group, and public communication, there is no immediate verbal and nonverbal feedback loop in mass communication. Of course you could write a letter to the editor of a newspaper or send an e-mail to a television or radio broadcaster in response to a story, but the immediate feedback available in face-to-face interactions is not present. With new media technologies like Twitter, blogs, and Facebook, feedback is becoming more immediate. Individuals can now tweet directly “at” (@) someone and use hashtags (#) to direct feedback to mass communication sources. Many radio and television hosts and news organizations specifically invite feedback from viewers/listeners via social media and may even share the feedback on the air.

The technology to mass-produce and distribute communication messages brings with it the power for one voice or a series of voices to reach and affect many people. This power makes mass communication different from the other levels of communication. While there is potential for unethical communication at all the other levels, the potential consequences of unethical mass communication are important to consider. Communication scholars who focus on mass communication and media often take a critical approach in order to examine how media shapes our culture and who is included and excluded in various mediated messages. We will discuss the intersection of media and communication more in Chapter 15 “Media, Technology, and Communication” and Chapter 16 “New Media and Communication” .

“Getting Real”

What Can You Do with a Degree in Communication Studies?

You’re hopefully already beginning to see that communication studies is a diverse and vibrant field of study. The multiple subfields and concentrations within the field allow for exciting opportunities for study in academic contexts but can create confusion and uncertainty when a person considers what they might do for their career after studying communication. It’s important to remember that not every college or university will have courses or concentrations in all the areas discussed next. Look at the communication courses offered at your school to get an idea of where the communication department on your campus fits into the overall field of study. Some departments are more general, offering students a range of courses to provide a well-rounded understanding of communication. Many departments offer concentrations or specializations within the major such as public relations, rhetoric, interpersonal communication, electronic media production, corporate communication. If you are at a community college and plan on transferring to another school, your choice of school may be determined by the course offerings in the department and expertise of the school’s communication faculty. It would be unfortunate for a student interested in public relations to end up in a department that focuses more on rhetoric or broadcasting, so doing your research ahead of time is key.

Since communication studies is a broad field, many students strategically choose a concentration and/or a minor that will give them an advantage in the job market. Specialization can definitely be an advantage, but don’t forget about the general skills you gain as a communication major. This book, for example, should help you build communication competence and skills in interpersonal communication, intercultural communication, group communication, and public speaking, among others. You can also use your school’s career services office to help you learn how to “sell” yourself as a communication major and how to translate what you’ve learned in your classes into useful information to include on your resume or in a job interview.

The main career areas that communication majors go into are business, public relations / advertising, media, nonprofit, government/law, and education. [1] Within each of these areas there are multiple career paths, potential employers, and useful strategies for success. For more detailed information, visit http://whatcanidowiththismajor.com/major/communication-studies .

  • Business. Sales, customer service, management, real estate, human resources, training and development.
  • Public relations / advertising. Public relations, advertising/marketing, public opinion research, development, event coordination.
  • Media. Editing, copywriting, publishing, producing, directing, media sales, broadcasting.
  • Nonprofit. Administration, grant writing, fund-raising, public relations, volunteer coordination.
  • Government/law. City or town management, community affairs, lobbying, conflict negotiation / mediation.
  • Education. High school speech teacher, forensics/debate coach, administration and student support services, graduate school to further communication study.
  • Which of the areas listed above are you most interested in studying in school or pursuing as a career? Why?
  • What aspect(s) of communication studies does/do the department at your school specialize in? What concentrations/courses are offered?
  • Whether or not you are or plan to become a communication major, how do you think you could use what you have learned and will learn in this class to “sell” yourself on the job market?

Key Takeaways

  • Getting integrated: Communication is a broad field that draws from many academic disciplines. This interdisciplinary perspective provides useful training and experience for students that can translate into many career fields.
  • Communication is the process of generating meaning by sending and receiving symbolic cues that are influenced by multiple contexts.
  • Ancient Greeks like Aristotle and Plato started a rich tradition of the study of rhetoric in the Western world more than two thousand years ago. Communication did not become a distinct field of study with academic departments until the 1900s, but it is now a thriving discipline with many subfields of study.

There are five forms of communication: intrapersonal, interpersonal, group, public, and mass communication.

  • Intrapersonal communication is communication with oneself and occurs only inside our heads.
  • Interpersonal communication is communication between people whose lives mutually influence one another and typically occurs in dyads, which means in pairs.
  • Group communication occurs when three or more people communicate to achieve a shared goal.
  • Public communication is sender focused and typically occurs when one person conveys information to an audience.
  • Mass communication occurs when messages are sent to large audiences using print or electronic media.
  • Getting integrated: Review the section on the history of communication. Have you learned any of this history or heard of any of these historical figures in previous classes? If so, how was this history relevant to what you were studying in that class?
  • Come up with your own definition of communication. How does it differ from the definition in the book? Why did you choose to define communication the way you did?
  • Over the course of a day, keep track of the forms of communication that you use. Make a pie chart of how much time you think you spend, on an average day, engaging in each form of communication (intrapersonal, interpersonal, group, public, and mass).

Dance, F. E. X. and Carl E. Larson, The Functions of Human Communication: A Theoretical Approach (New York, NY: Holt, Reinhart, and Winston, 1976), 23.

Keith, W., “On the Origins of Speech as a Discipline: James A. Winans and Public Speaking as Practical Democracy,” Rhetoric Society Quarterly 38, no. 3 (2008): 239–58.

McCroskey, J. C., “Communication Competence: The Elusive Construct,” in Competence in Communication: A Multidisciplinary Approach , ed. Robert N. Bostrom (Beverly Hills, CA: Sage, 1984), 260.

Poe, M. T., A History of Communications: Media and Society from the Evolution of Speech to the Internet (New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2011), 27.

  • What Can I Do with This Major? “Communication Studies,” accessed May 18, 2012, http://whatcanidowiththismajor.com/major/communication-studies ↵

Communication in the Real World Copyright © 2016 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

Effective Communication Methods Essay

Methods of communications for internal and externals groups, analyzes of the methods for the case scenario, best course of action, reference list.

Communication is regarded as the process by which individuals send and receive thoughts, ideas as well as feelings in a manner in which the recipient comprehends the message in its intended form. Thus, communication is taken as a two way process where the binding force is assumed to be the feedback loop.

Communication can be done verbally or in writing. In most instances, official communications are done in writing because of documentation purposes. On the other hand, most informal communications are done orally. For effective communication to take place, it is important for the communicating parties to make sure that the receiver clearly understands the message and gives a feedback. Failure of the receiver to provide a feedback breaks the communication loop and communication cannot be sustained any longer.

However, when the receiver communicates back, the communication is taken as a two way communication which is essential for communication. Communication can be categorized into three main categories. Communication can be classified as verbal communication that entails both spoken and written communication. The second one is non-verbal communication that includes body language and finally communicating through listening.

Verbal communication is taken as the process that individual’s use to express their ideas, thoughts or feelings verbally. It is commonly regarded as the spoken language. Individuals use enunciation, words choices, pauses, tone, emphasis and loudness in order to enhance verbal communication.

Some examples of verbal communications include: telephone conversations, radio, face-to-face discussions, voicemail, seminars, recorded books as well as videos. Similarly, speakers who use sign languages are also considered to be communicating verbally. In a wider context, verbal communication encompasses written word. Thus, written communications such as letters, books, newspapers, hand written notes, announcements and emails are also taken as examples of verbal communications.

The best effective method of verbal communication is face-to-face communication. In face-to-face communication, the receiver gets the relayed message immediately and provides an instant feedback. The method is considered as being highly effective because of its efficiency as well as the ability of the sender to assess the receiver body language (Cherry, 2012).

Non –verbal communications accounts for a substantial portion of our day-to-day communications. Some common examples of non-verbal communications include; gestures, facial expressions and handshakes. Deliberate body movements are instrumental in inferring certain meanings.

Waving, use of fingers to indicate certain numerical values as well as pointing are some commonly used gestures. Facial expressions accounts for the greatest forms of no-verbal communications. Despite the variation in non-verbal communications across culture, it is noted that facial expressions for happiness, anger, sadness and fear are universal globally (Willey, 2012).

Listening which is considered as the third method of communication can be grouped into three types: passive, active and reflective listening. Active listening is the most effective form of listening because apart from the regular listening, the listener encourages the person who shares the information.

Active listening is instrumental in building strong relationships as it expresses genuine interests. In situations where there is a main speaker, passive listening is the best since the speaker does all the speaking and the audience the listening. Reflective listening is considered as the best form of communication when someone is frustrated, worried, upset or confused. It mainly acknowledges feelings over content (Bennett & Hess, 2007).

In order to succeed in establishing the required community policing, there must exist effective communications across all stakeholders that are involved in this project. Because of the existing politics in the internal and external groups, it is essential to ensure that appropriate communication methods are adopted.

The group that is spearheading this project should ensure that it engages all the internal departments involved in the implementation of the project to an active listening. The managements should listen actively to the challenges they are encountering and encourage them to propose solutions on how the management can help them overcome the problems.

Alternatively, the management can request the complaining factions to write a letter that explains their reasons of dissatisfaction and give recommendations on the way forward. The management should read the letters and write back to the groups consoling them for the challenges they are encountering and explaining to them on how the management can intervene to assist them.

The management can also organize a seminar/ meeting where all the parties involved in the project will meet and have a face-to-face discussion about the project. The management should make sure that it assumes the role of active listening in order to show genuine interest to parties contributing. Similarly, it should use gestures such as nodding the head, smile or frown accordingly to indicate how they are being affected by the information being provided by the parties’ contributing.

In addition, the management should engage in reflective listening in instances where the parties contributing are expressing their dissatisfactions, worry and dismay. The management on the other hand should appoint a key speaker who is very conversant with community policing that pertain to drug issues.

The speaker should be given the hand written notes of all the issues raised by the represents of the community and departments. The speaker should then conclude the meeting by educating the group about the benefits that both the government departments as well as the community at range will enjoy by implementation of the community policy. In addition, the speaker should address how the management will cater for the worries and frustrations of affected groups (Davidson, 2000).

In order to have effective communication in the groups involved, the management should adopt various strategies of communications. Because the community concerned is composed of low- income earners, there is a high possibility that most of the residents in the area are not highly educated.

Therefore, the managements overseeing the project should organize seminars at religious centers or in surrounding schools and invite appropriate professionals who will educate the community about the benefits of establishing community policies. In addition, the managements should request the professionals invited to prepare booklets that they will be given to those attending the seminar.

The booklet should contain detailed information about community policing. It should explain how community policies are established as well as indicate the benefits they bring to affected societies. The booklet will be used to educate the residents who will not get the opportunity to attend the about the benefits of community policies.

Effective use of communication methods is essential in ensuring successful communications. The management that is overseeing the implementation of the community policing is being faced with its challenges for lack of appropriate communication strategies.

Therefore, the management will succeed in its mission by adopting effective communications such as use of seminars, face-to-face discussions, gestures, active, passive and reflective listening as well as ensuring to give feedbacks to sustain the communication loop. Use of booklets should also be used to educate the public about the importance of community policies.

Bennett, W. W. & Hess, K. M. (2007). Management and supervision in law enforcement (5th ed.). Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning.

Cherry, K. (2012). Types of Nonverbal Communications . Web.

Davidson, M. (2000). Effective Communication Methods . New York: Prentice Hall.

Willey, J. (2012). Methods of Communication . Web.

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"Effective Communication Methods." IvyPanda , 17 Dec. 2019, ivypanda.com/essays/effective-communication-methods-essay/.

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IvyPanda . 2019. "Effective Communication Methods." December 17, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/effective-communication-methods-essay/.

1. IvyPanda . "Effective Communication Methods." December 17, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/effective-communication-methods-essay/.

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IvyPanda . "Effective Communication Methods." December 17, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/effective-communication-methods-essay/.

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What is Communication?

The English word ‘communication’ is derived from the Latin communis, which means common sense. The word communication means sharing the same ideas. In other words, the transmission and interaction of facts, ideas, opinions, feelings or attitudes. Communication is the essence of management. The basic function of management (planning, planning, staffing, supervision and management) cannot be done effectively without effective communication.

Communication is a two-way process which involves transferring of information or messages from one person or group to another. This process goes on and includes a minimum of one sender and receiver to pass on the messages. These messages can either be any ideas, imagination, emotions, or thoughts.

Communication is a Latin word which means “to share”. There are different modes of communication available today. These include emails, chats, WhatsApp, skype (conference calls), etc. Effective communication makes people’s work easier and smooth. 

Communication Process

Communication is an ongoing process that mainly involves three components namely. sender, message, and recipient. The components involved in the communication process are described below in detail:

The sender or contact generates the message and transmits it to the recipient. He is the source and the first contact

It is an idea, knowledge, opinion, truth, feeling, etc. produced by the sender and intended for reference.

The message produced by the sender is encrypted in a symbolic way such as words, pictures, touches, etc. before transfer.

This is how the coded message is conveyed. The message can be conveyed orally or in writing. 

It is a process of modifying the signals sent by the sender. After recording the message is received by the recipient.

You are the last person in the chain and the message you sent was sent. If the recipient receives the message and understands it correctly and acts on the message, only then the purpose of the communication is achieved.

Once the recipient confirms to the sender that you received the message and understood it, the communication process is complete.

Refers to any restrictions caused by the sender, message or recipient during the communication process. For example, incorrect telephone connection, incorrect coding, incorrect recording, careless recipient, incorrect understanding of message due to discrimination or inappropriate touch, etc.

Types of Communication

Verbal Communication and Non-Communication

Verbal communication: 

Communication occurs through verbal, verbal or written communication that conveys or conveys a message to others is called oral communication. Verbal communication is the use of language to convey information verbally or in sign language.Verbal communication is important because it works well. It can be helpful to support verbal Non-verbal communication Any non-verbal communication, spoken words, conversation and written language ​​is called.

Non-verbal communication: 

It occurs with signs, symbols, colors, touches, body or facial features. Insignificant communication is using body language, body language and facial expressions to convey information to others. It can be used both intentionally and deliberately. For example, you may have a smile on your face when you hear an idea or a piece of interesting or exciting information. Open communication is helpful when you are trying to understand the thoughts and feelings of others.

Mode Of Communication

Formal Communication:

Formal Communication refers to communication that takes place through legal channels in an organization. That kind of communication takes place between managers or employees of the same class or between high and low and vice versa. It may be oral or written but a complete record of that communication is kept in the organization.

Informal Communication:

Informal communication is defined as any communication that occurs outside of the official channels of communication. Informal communication is often referred to as the ‘vine’ as it spreads throughout the organization and on all sides regardless of the level of authority.

Few Communication Barriers

One sometimes wants to connect with one thing, but he is actually saying something else that he did not intend. This type of event in communication behaviour is known as the “Arc of Distortion”. The distortion may be the result of some error in any of the communication channels. These barriers to communication are also known as “barriers”.

Some of the barriers to communication:

 Lack of proper style, feedback.

Content is not related to customer requirements.

Failure to maintain dual communication.

Bad weather.

Lack of horizontal flow of ideas.

Availability of technical coordinators.

Semantic Problems.

Lack of leadership.

Lack of enthusiasm.

Lack of support from heads of institutions.

Importance of Communication

Communication Foundation:

The manager explains to the employees the goals of the organization, the methods of their success and the interpersonal relationships between them. This provides communication between the various staff and departments. Therefore, communication serves as the basis for collaboration in the organization.

Functional:

The manager coordinates the individual and physical aspects of the organization in order to run it efficiently and effectively. This integration is not possible without proper communication.

The Basis for Making Decisions:

Good communication provides information to the manager that helps them make decisions. No decisions could have been made without knowledge. Thus, communication is the basis for making the right decisions.

Improves Management Ability:

The manager transfers targets and issues instructions and assigns tasks to subordinates. All of these factors are involved.

Communication plays a vital part in building up a strong relationship across the world, either in organisational structure or outside of it. It is an essential pillar for people in sharing the ideas, delegating responsibilities, management of a team, building up a healthy relationship, etc. Effective communication is necessary for managers in the organisation for planning, organising, leading and controlling. Managers of the organisation are dedicated enough in communicating throughout the day in various tasks performances. They spent the whole time communicating face-to-face or over the phone to their colleagues, subordinates and the clients. Managers also use written communication in the form of Emails, memos, daily reports and so on. Effective communication is a successful building block of the organisational structure.

Here The Importance of Communication Can Be Briefed As Follows

Good communication encourages motivational skills. 

It is a mode of information in the decision-making process.

Communication emphasises socialising within or outside the organisational structure. 

It helps in controlling the process. Employees have to follow the organisation rule, code of conduct and other company policies.

There are four types of communication . It is categorised into verbal, non-verbal, written and visual.

Verbal communication is one of the modes where people communicate or transfer information through words. It is one of the common and usual types and frequently used during one on one presentations, video calls or conferences, meetings, phone calls etc. 

There Are Certain Measures Which Enhance This More Effectively

Firm and Confident Voice:  

Firm and confident communication reflects the personality of the person. It gives more certainty of completing any task. So always be confident so that your ideas are more precise and specific.

Active listening:  

A good listener always tends to listen to everyone’s perspective or viewpoints. Active listening helps in identifying each one’s problem or thoughts in a more clear way.

Ignore Filler Words:  

While giving a presentation, avoid using filler words such as yeah, like, so, etc. It might be distracting to your audiences. Try not to use them in official conferences or meetings. 

Non-verbal communication is the use of body language. It includes body gestures, facial expression, and shaking hands, etc.. For example: How you sit during an interview automatically reflects your body language. If they are indicating closed body language like closed arms, bent shoulders, shaking legs, etc., they might be nervous, low in confidence, surrounded with anxiety, etc. Non-verbal communication is the most powerful communication to understand others’ thoughts and emotions. 

Here are Certain Categories Where Non-Verbal Communication are Briefed Up

Positive Body Language: Always carry a positive body language where you can carry your confidence for performing any task. This type of communication gives support to your verbal talks and makes you more open to any kind of jobs. 

Imitate non-verbal communication you find useful: Some facial expression or body language can be found helpful in an interview. If an interviewer has positively nodded his head, it gives a clear positive sign in a closed way, i.e. non-verbal communication.

It is the form of communication that involves writing, typing and printing symbols, letters, etc. It is used in Emails, chats, etc. which are the common techniques of using it in the workplace. Whereas it also furnishes a record of all docs in one place and keeps a systematic account of it.

Here Are Certain Categories Where Written Communication is Briefed Up

Aim for Simplicity:  

Any type of written communications should be in a simple format and clear. It helps audiences to understand and provides more transparency on information which you're providing. 

Reviewing:  

Whenever you're writing, always review your emails, letters or memos before sending it. Reviewing helps to find the mistakes or opportunities to present something distinct. 

Be Careful of Written Tone:  

Since this is not a mode of verbal or non-verbal communication, always be cautious and have a polite tone while writing.  

Keep the Written Files if You Find it Useful:  

If you received the memo or email which you’re finding helpful or interesting, you could save that template for further references to use it in future writing for improving your written communication.

Visualizing is a form of communication where one can use photographs, drawing charts and graphs to convey information through it. It helps in furnishing the right information through graphics and visuals during office presentation (along with verbal and written). 

Here are Certain Steps Which Help in Visual Communication Skills

Taking Advice Before Going with Visuals:  

Visual communication includes presentation or emails. Always ask for other’s advice if any mistake can be rectified. 

Targeting Audience:  

Always put those visuals in presentation or emails that can be understood by everyone quickly. If you are giving a presentation on any data or chart which is not familiar to the audience, you need to explain it clearly. There shouldn’t be any usage of offensive visuals.

Barriers in Communication

There are certain barriers which create hindrance in building up communication over the time period.

Personal Barriers:

Communication takes place between receiver and sender. It’s a two-way process which should be clear. In case message formation went wrong, it gives a wrong and unclear message to the recipient. The receiver might get the wrong perspective while receiving a message. Therefore the message should be written effortlessly.  

Systematic Barrier:

 If any machine or electronic errors occur by any means or in any unforeseen situation, it may affect the importance of communication.

Flow of Communication

An organisation follows the five flow of communications: 

Downward Flow: 

In this, communication flows from the higher level to lower level, i.e. communication carried out by the head of the organisation to the subordinates like providing feedback, giving job instructions etc. 

Upward Flow: 

Communication which flows to the higher level of the organisation is upward communication. Subordinates use upward flow to transfer their grievances and performances to their seniors. 

Lateral/Horizontal Communication:  

It takes place where communication happens between the same level of the hierarchy that is communication between colleagues, managers or between any horizontally equivalent members of the organisation. It benefits employees to perform coordination among the tasks, time-saving, solving problems of employees of other departments or conflicts within the department. 

Diagonal Communication:  

Communication which takes place between the manager and employee of other work departments is known as diagonal communication. 

External Communication: 

Communication which takes place between the manager and external group likes vendors, suppliers, banks, financial institutions and many more. For example, the Managing Director would be meeting with the bank manager to get the bank loan or some other financial work.

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FAQs on Communication

1. What Are The Communication Styles?

Communication styles include:

Passive-aggressive

2. Define The Process of Communication?

Process of the communication comprises five systems, i.e. a sender, the encoding of the message, selecting of a channel of communication, receipt of the message by the receiver and decoding of the message. 

3. What is The Most Important Part of Communication?

Feedback is a vital part of communication. It can only be successful when feedback is given properly. This fulfils the space of communication. 

4. What is Assertive Communication?

Assertive communication is known to execute positive and negative emotions in a direct form of expression. 

5. Name the Three C’s of Assertive Communication.

Given below are the C’s of assertive communication:

CONFIDENCE: Having confidence in terms of solving any problems.

CLEAR: Sending the clear message which is clear to understand to the audiences. 

CONTROLLED: Delivering information or message in a controlled or peaceful manner.

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  • Communication

Types of Communication

Updated 13 September 2023

Subject Communication

Downloads 60

Category Sociology

Topic Communication Skills

A communicator is a person who communicates. Communication could be either verbal, non – verbal or visual depending on the communicator. While looking at communication and its influences and what it takes to be an excellent communicator, one has to answer the following questions.

Am I a competent communicator? – Yes I am

What are my strengths? – Non-verbal communication

What are the areas in which I can make improvements? – Culture, which is an influence in both verbal and non-verbal communication

How can I specifically make these improvements? – By getting to know more about different cultures and being involved in them and also interacting with people from different cultures as well, so as not to pass the wrong message to the wrong people while communicating.

THESIS: Good communication requires the skills and knowledge of both the verbal and non - verbal types of communication.

Types Of Communication

The following are types of communication with their definition and discussion.

Verbal Communication

This is the type of communication that requires the use of mouth to communicate. For a communication to be termed as verbal, there has to be the use of words or sounds (speech) as opposed to gestures. Businesses rely mostly on verbal communication than the other types of communication since there is more authority in the tone of voice while addressing the employees.

Influences On Verbal Communication

Gender is a term that distinguishes male and female. Many stereotypical beliefs have been heard of while trying to look at the differences between male and female when it comes to verbal communication. However, there is some truth to this differences. According to (von Hippel, Wiryakusuma, Bowden, " Shochet, 2011), women pass information in a more indirect, emotional and elaborate the information in a way that brings about hesitation, lack of authority and just not being certain ,while men communicate in a way that is concise, direct and instrumental.

The effect of age on verbal communication is shown whereby, people from different age groups have to be communicated in a different setting according to their age groups and this enables them to understand the information being passed. A twenty-year-old would not understand the language of a seventy-year-old and vice versa.

Ethnicity/ Race

Culture, race and ethnic background play a big role when it comes to verbal communication. This is mostly because of the values that different cultures have and their thinking styles. According to (Erez " Earley, 1993), different cultures include; norms, institutions, values, physical environment, resources, and geography. With such differences, it is not easy to communicate or understand another person’s culture if you do not belong to the same one.

Education/ Occupation

With different levels of education, there comes more additional knowledge to that person who has gone through higher levels of education as compared to one who is not educated. Therefore, such people cannot understand each other clearly unless there is an interpreter who will make it easier for the Uneducated to understand. People from different occupation also have different communication styles and therefore a jobless person would not understand the language of that manager unless the information is further broken down for him/her to fully understand.

Types Of Verbal Communication.

There are several types of verbal communication and these include,

Intrapersonal communication

This is the type of communication that involves oneself. It is communication within a person and such type can be achieved when someone is silent and in deep thought (User, 2018).

Interpersonal communication

Also known as the one on one communication. It involves two people having a conversation and therefore having a sender and a receiver (User, 2018).

Small group communication

This type of communication involves more than one or two people, although the number has to be small enough to allow easy interaction among them. Examples of a small group communication could be; board meetings, press conferences etc. (User, 2018).

Public communication

This type involves a large group of people being communicated to by an individual. It could be one or two individuals addressing a large group of people. An example of this type of communication is election campaigns (User, 2018).

Although verbal communication seems to be the dominant and superior mode of communication, it is biased and does not favor the need of those with special cases such as the deaf and dumb. There is also a lot of biases involved in the influences of this mode of communication and solutions should be created to ensure fair treatment when it comes to communication.

Non – Verbal communication

This is the mode of communication that does not use words or speech to pass information, instead, it uses gestures, body language, distance, touch and use of physical environments.

Influences On Non – Verbal Communication

In non- verbal communication, both women and men are stereotypically thought to be unlike in how they communicate. Such differences are noticeable in the way males and females act. Some differences are psychological while others are deep into socialization. Women are said to mostly express themselves non-verbally as compared to men and they are also better at noticing others non-verbal behavior. It is also said that women smile more compared to men (Churgai, 2015)

There are so many non-verbal meanings when it comes to culture depending on the cultural differences and location. Culture also affects how non-verbal cues are regulated. According to “Bookshelf Online”, Japanese look into the eyes for emotional cues while in America, they look at the mouth for the same emotional cues.

Culture is dependent greatly on time and this is seen whereby, some cultures tend to be monochronic while others appear to be polychronic. Monochronic people are keen on punctuality, schedule and they tend to complete one task at a time, while the polychronic pursue pliable schedules in which different tasks are taken care of at the same time ("Bookshelf Online").

Types Of Non – Verbal Communication

Body Movement

Body movement is also referred to as kinesics, motion or body position. In this type of non-verbal communication, there is a broad and detailed field that is involved for it to be classified as a non-verbal type of communication. They include;

Body orientation – This is the physical positioning of the body. How we face towards or away from someone.

Posture – This is the positioning in how one sits depending on what the body wants to communicate.

Gesture – This is the movement of the arms and the hands.

Face and eyes – The face is a difficult part to understand what it is communicating due to its sudden changes, you can only tell a facial expression by being extremely keen. The eyes as well also tell different kinds of messages and could be mistaken to something else if one does not clearly understand the cues.

Paralanguage is a term used to describe non - verbal vocal messages. While talking or speaking, a message could end up giving many meanings to a word or words. Communication is done through tone, rate, pitch, volume and even through pauses ("Bookshelf Online"). There are some vocal factors which are positively perceived as compared to others. An example is; A person who speaks loudly is considered to be more confident than one who is silent and speaks quietly and also people with attractive voices are highly rated compared to the others whose voices are less attractive.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

The language of touch is a complex language which can be easily misunderstood. A hug, a kiss and a pat on the back are all types of non – verbal communication which involves the means of touch. Although, as much as it is misunderstood, touch should be culturally appropriate.

Looks really matter in how people eventually view us. Appearance includes physical attractiveness and clothing. People who are termed as physically attractive tend to get all the positive and great benefits in life compared to the less attractive who have to work twice as much in order to get what the others have. Clothing, on the other hand, is a non – verbal form of communication that conveys different meanings. Clothes could define a class, poverty, moral character, trustworthiness, level of success etc. People make assumptions based on the clothes we put on.

Physical Space

Also known as proxemics and is the study of how people use the space around them. Physical space can be defined by distance and territory. Distance can be categorized into; personal distance, Intimate distance, Social distance, and Public distance, all with different meanings. Territory, on the other hand, speaks power in how people use space.

Physical Environment

The physical settings in our environment including interior designs and architecture also play a part in non – verbal communication. They communicate information about the environment or the structure that has been developed.

Chronemics which is the study of how human beings use time is also a type of non – verbal communication. One can tell how intentional or unintentional you are by just looking at how you handle time. Different cultures also have different values in regards to time and it can be categorized in status, power or relationship accordingly.

The non – verbal form of communication, involves almost everything that there is. There is no biasness in this type of communication as opposed to the verbal types of communication and these types accommodate everyone’s understanding.

Both verbal and non- verbal communications are skills that need to be learned and acquired in order to be a good communicator. There is also the necessity of learning different cultures since different types of communication may differ due to the different cultures that we have. It is also important to learn about different cultures so as to appreciate the values and art that comes from them.

Finally, while studying different cultures, there is need to be have an open mind since some verbal or non-verbal influences of communication could contradict to the values that you may have and therefore for the purpose of striving to be a good communicator, you have to sacrifice some values from your culture to get to know others.

Works Cited

"Bookshelf Online". Online.Vitalsource.Com, 2018,            https://online.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781305855656/cfi/240!/4/ [email protected] :0.00.             Accessed 11 Nov 2018.

Churgai, Debbie. "The Influence Of Gender On Communication Style". Linked In, 2015,   https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/influence-gender-communication-style-debbie-churgai/.          Accessed 11 Nov 2018.

Erez, M., " Earley, P. (1993). Culture, self-identity, and work. Oxford, U.K.: Oxford University       Press.

User, Super. "Four Types Of Verbal Communication". Atio.Co.Za, 201             http://www.atio.co.za/index.php/careers/60-latest-vacancies.html. Accessed 11 Nov     2018.

von Hippel, C., Wiryakusuma, C., Bowden, J., " Shochet, M. (2011). Stereotype threat and      female communication styles. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 37(10), 1312-           1324. doi:10.1177/0146167211410439

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essay on communication

Essay on Communication | How to communicate effectively?

Communication is an important skill to have in today’s world. Research shows the quality of our relationships and how we express our feelings and opinions are based on how well we can communicate.

We use it for professional, personal, and academic reasons. It can be difficult to communicate effectively without knowing what you’re doing wrong.

Sometimes we might not even know that we’re communicating incorrectly. This essay will help you to learn how to communicate more effectively in your daily life and at work.

Essay on Communication

Communication is the ability to articulate thoughts and ideas without difficulty while maintaining a respectful tone while building strong relationships with others, which will help you in your job search, personal relationships, leadership roles, and other areas of life.

Communication is a skill that has been shown to increase intelligence and success. With so much riding on communication, it pays to be able to do it well.

Being able to take this skill and use it for your own benefit is something many people struggle with.

Communication skills are necessary to learn in order to get ahead in life. It is the backbone of interpersonal relationships and how we relate to other people.

These skills are also important because they make us feel better about ourselves. It’s the way in which we connect with others and share ideas, thoughts, and feelings.

It can bring us together or tear us apart. In a world where the internet has given many people a voice, it’s more important than ever to learn how to communicate effectively.

So how do you do that? Here are some tips on how to use communication skills to make effective connections.

Understand your message

Before you even start communicating with anyone, you have to first understand your message. Your message is what you want to convey to the other person, or to everyone you are communicating with.

When you understand this, you can begin your quest to become a better communicator. Try to write it down As the old saying goes, “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.”

It’s good to write things down, and it’s better still if you plan to look at your notes later. When you have an idea of the message you are going to communicate, you will be better prepared to present it in a way that is both clear and persuasive.

If you don’t write it down, you may forget where you wanted to go, or what you intended to say, or how you wanted to say it.

The Communication Process

There are five steps to a successful communication process: Plan ahead, stay in touch in real-time, seek an open dialogue, get feedback, take action and avoid procrastination.

Understand that communication isn’t just face-to-face, but can take place virtually and in different formats (texting, emails, and apps).

Planning and preparing for communication is one of the most important steps. Plan ahead in a positive way, and communicate well.

This way, you are creating a positive experience for both you and the other person.

Communication can be tough, and you shouldn’t let the fear of messing up prevent you from attempting it. Having good contact with others is one of the most important things in life.

Types of communication

There are four basic types of communication:

  • Verbal communication: It includes good speaking skills. You convey message through speaking and sign languange. This kind of skills also require good listening skills.
  • Non-verbal communication: It includes, facial expressions, body language, gestures and eye-contact etc. Communicate with body language. Proper posture and eye contact are important to demonstrate your authority.
  • Visual communication: In this types of communication, we use visuals to communicate the message.
  • Written Communication: In this types of communication, we convey the message or information in writing. For example, letters, memos, office circulars etc.

Effective Communication Skills

The concept of effective communication goes beyond teaching our kids about grammar.

Effective Communication is about conveying information in a way that allows others to understand it, feel it, and feel a greater connection to you and your goals.

You need to understand your audience, the emotions they may be experiencing, and how best to talk to them to persuade them.

Good communication is self-driven.

As children, communication is more likely to be about our needs than about what other people want. As we grow and mature, we tend to prioritize the needs of others as well as ourselves and can begin to communicate for their benefit, as well as ours.

Body Language and Nonverbal Communication

Communication is the way we speak to each other, it’s how we touch our neighbor, it’s the tone of our voice, it’s how we handle conversations, it’s the tone of our emails, it’s the tone of our posts, it’s what you wear, how you eat, and how you move.

Whether you’re communicating with a coworker, friend, or loved one, understanding body language and nonverbal communication can be a great way to improve your communication skills.

In short, body language and nonverbal communication are the ways we convey our moods, intentions, emotions, and beliefs in our body language and gestures.

Body language includes the movement and position of the body and the expression of the face. The way we express ourselves in words and tone of voice is just the physical manifestation of our thoughts.

If you are standing or sitting at a table, keep your back straight, raise your head, and keep eye contact with the person you are speaking with.

Keep your hands away from your sides, and make sure that they are resting on the table and not crossed.

Tips for Good Communication

When you go into a job interview or an important interview, you want to be confident.

You want to be prepared and confident, but at the same time, you want to come across as smart, witty, and attentive.

No matter what, you want to come across as personable. It’s good to have the right balance of confidence and vulnerability.

When you are presenting a new idea or concept to a group or meeting new people, you want to talk to the people that you are presenting to, and be mindful of what you are saying.

You don’t want to sound like an attention seeker or try to impress the crowd.

Talking to people gives you a chance to get a few things out of the way, like proper word choice, and focusing on the right points.

Listen well

One of the best ways to communicate is by listening to other people. Listening to what other people say and trying to understand what they are saying is an important skill for anyone who wants to influence others.

Of course, listening is not just about hearing what other people say. Listening implies active listening.

Active listening means you are actively trying to understand what other people are trying to communicate.

Here are a few examples of active listening:

  • Looking for how someone is feeling
  • Response by encouraging what they are saying
  • Open-ended questions that allow the person to describe what they are feeling
  • Remembering to ask questions to clarify, instead of just waiting to speak up
  • The most effective way to listen is by asking questions.

Be prepared for any situation

Some people feel that in a world with instantaneous information, people don’t need to think before they speak.

This is simply not true. In fact, there are plenty of studies on the impact that preparation can have on communication.

When I worked at united way, one of the most effective strategies was to get people to review their prepared statements.

People who were required to prepare statements of their priorities and objectives were much more effective at making their case. Ensure that you have the resources you need. Before you open your mouth, do a bit of research to make sure that your message is getting through.

Practice makes perfect

There’s no way to become a better communicator overnight. Some of the skills we develop in our early years can make communicating easier as we age.

Take note of the words you use, the tone of your voice, and how you take the listener in your direction and provide value.

For example, when you’re at a dinner party and someone asks you what you do, it’s important to answer in a clear and concise manner without using unnecessary words.

Working together effectively requires two people to understand what the other person wants. Working as a team requires two people who can communicate their needs to one another clearly, confidently, and persuasively.

Communication skills are an asset for any kind of career, but the more skills you have in your arsenal, the easier you’ll be to find a job that is right for you.

essay on communication

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essay on types of communication

  • Types of Communication
  • Knowledge Hub
  • Communication

After reading this guide, you will better understand the four main types of communication: Verbal, non-verbal, written, and visual.

You will be able to use this information to improve your own communication and make sure that you are promoting effective communication skills within your organisation.

  • Non-verbal communication
  • Verbal communication
  • Written communication
  • Visual communication

4 Types of communication

While it is easy to think of communication as simply the verbal transmission of information from one person to another, it is so much more than that.

Communication ranges from non-verbal, such as a glance and raised eyebrows, to verbal, such as a change in pitch and tone. Let’s take an in-depth look at all the ways that we communicate with each other.

1. Non-verbal communication

It is interesting to note that non-verbal communication is used both intentionally and unintentionally.

Most people do not have perfect control over their facial expressions – we all have heard an unprofessional comment and raised our eyebrows in response, regardless of whether or not it was wise to do so.

By learning more about how we use non-verbal communication, you will be better able to master yours and ensure that you are conveying your message exactly the way you wish to.

Facial expressions

We often use facial expressions as a way to communicate that we are listening and engaged with the person speaking.

A smile, furrowed eyebrows, or a quizzical expression all convey information to the speaker about how you are responding to their conversation.

They work to help grease the conversation, keeping it going without having to interject verbally to confirm your continued interest.

If you have ever spoken to a stone-faced person, you will know how important facial expressions are in a conversation.

How you position yourself during a conversation is important.

If you angle yourself towards the person, with a relaxed and open posture, you invite them to engage with you more fully.

Leaning back, crossing arms, or turning away from the speaker conveys a very different message – and not a positive one.

Just as no one wants to have a conversation with the back of someone’s head, talking to someone with an extremely closed posture creates a more difficult and unpleasant conversation.

Gestures and physical touch

Depending on the person, and their country of origin, they may use gestures and physical touch a lot, or almost never. However, there is a lot of information conveyed in these actions.

A gentle touch on the arm can signal encouragement, while an overly strong handshake can be an act of dominance.

Someone fidgeting with their hands while talking to you about a problem can signal guilt or avoidance and using many grand gestures while presenting an idea could convey excitement or confidence.

Eye contact

We all know the importance of eye contact.

When someone is unable to maintain eye contact, we take this to mean that they are being untruthful, shifty, or not paying attention.

Being able to maintain eye contact while listening will ensure that the speaker knows that you are present and engaged.

While speaking, it shows that you are connecting with the listener, and in cases where you are delivering unpleasant news, is doubly important.

Being able to tell someone an unpleasant message while looking them directly in the eye shows that you respect them and are an honest and sincere person.

2. Verbal communication

When we speak, we are communicating much more than just the content of our words.

We are also using pitch and tone, as well as the level of formality we use to convey important subtext to the person we are speaking with.

By carefully choosing how we use each of these aspects, we can be sure that our message is received exactly as intended.

From greeting coworkers to leading a client pitch meeting to present in front of the entire company, verbal communication factors into our work lives in a massive way.

When speaking, our emotions can often come into play.

If we are angry, upset, or frustrated, our pitch might raise, conveying to the listener that we are experiencing a strong emotion.

This is not necessarily a bad thing, but being able to control it allows you to make sure that you are effectively communicating.

We all encounter situations that are frustrating or upsetting.

Allowing that to change our tone from calm and professional to curt, short, or rude is always a mistake.

Tone conveys a lot of information to the listener about how the speaker views them.

To build positive interpersonal relationships in an office environment, we should all endeavour to speak in a professional and respectful tone.

Of course, content is the most important part of verbal communication. What we say, and the words we choose to use, are crucial.

While most office communications tend to be more formal than, for example, meeting a friend for coffee, we should make sure that we leave space for personal chats and relationship building.

Think also about how technical your content is. If you are talking with developers about specific aspects of code, you should use different terms than when talking to the marketing team about new developments within the app.

3. Written communication

Effective communication by writing is a massively important skill, especially as more people are working remotely and keep in touch throughout the workday through Skype, Slack, or other digital mediums.

From a Slack message to an email to a customer to a new employee’s training guide, we write every day and it is crucial that we understand how to do so effectively.

In fact, as we increasingly rely on written communication, we are all faced with just how easy it is to create misunderstandings when using this medium.

Unclear messages, the information gone missing, or an incorrect understanding of tone or content are all problems that happen with written communication every day.

Sometimes the reader will misread the tone of a message because they are having a bad day, or just had a run-in with an unpleasant person.

No matter what, one important skill to have when relying on written communication is knowing when you need to stop using it. A simple call, in almost all cases, can solve these communication problems.

If you sense that there is a miscommunication happening, or just starting, nip it in the bud with a quick verbal chat and you’ll save a lot of time and frustration for all parties.

When writing, it is important to think about how you are presenting the information. Using paragraphs and line breaks are necessary.

Creating an impenetrable wall of text will disengage the reader – understanding and applying a proper structure will let the reader take in the information in digestible chunks.

Present your argument or thesis, take the time to back it up with clear proof, add in the relevant information to make sure that the reader understands the point fully, then close with a conclusion. 

It is a hard balance to strike between over or under explaining concepts. If you are writing instructions for a new employee, how detailed should you be?

Of course, this depends on the person, but over-explaining a little bit is much better than leaving the reader clueless.

Be thoughtful about your audience, what will they know and what do you need to explain in more detail? 

Written content tends to be a bit more formal than verbal.

Leave out the slang, use proper punctuation and spelling, and remember that anything written – especially in the digital age – will remain, even if you delete it.

Err on the side of professionalism every time you write something. Messages on Slack, for example, do not need to be written as formally as a cover letter, but they should be polite, professional, and well-written.

Be aware that written jokes can fall flat without the added context of tone or facial expressions.

4. Visual communication

Visual has become the most used type of communication, driven by social media, YouTube, and other platforms of the digital era.

As more and more people and organisations use these channels of communication, the more we are used to, and even dependent upon, using visual communication to stand out in a crowded platform.

Understanding that your visual communication must be in line with your brand and marketing, and knowing that there must be a developed and cohesive strategy for that, is crucial.

We rely heavily on visual communication.

There are many ways that visual communication, like charts, photographs, sketches, video, graphs, and even emojis and GIFs, can help improve the understanding of your message.

Think about how charts can bring data to life, making it much easier to understand than presenting a long stream of numbers, or how a sketch of a new UX is much more effective than a text description.

We rely on visuals to elevate our understanding of complex ideas.

While it is tempting to include visuals to add a bit of diversity and interest, you should consider what they bring to the table.

  • Are they helpful?
  • Are they necessary?
  • Do they add to the overall message?

Not all communications need to have visuals added, and in some cases, they might detract from what you are trying to communicate.

You should endeavour to make sure that you are not adding fluff to your message, but rather strengthening your audience’s understanding of it.

As with all communications, make sure that you are meeting your audience where they are.

If you are presenting complex data, include the relevant descriptions, at the right technical level, so that your audience can follow.

Don’t use images that are graphic or could be upsetting, and remember the same rule applies to visual communication as does to writing: don’t create anything that you wouldn’t want to have associated with you in the future.

Develop and maintain Learning Culture

In this workbook, we put together tips and exercises to help you develop your organisation’s learning culture.

essay on types of communication

Ivan Andreev

Demand Generation & Capture Strategist

Ivan is a dedicated and versatile professional with over 12 years of experience in online marketing and a proven track record of turning challenges into opportunities. Ivan works diligently to improve internal processes and explore new possibilities for the company.

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Essay on Communication in 100, 200 and 300 Words: The Essence of Survival

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Essay on Communication

Do you know how important it is to communicate with others? Communication is the primary means through which individuals share information, ideas and thoughts. Communication fosters strong relationships. In this essence, writing an essay on communication becomes important where you highlight the importance of communication, how it affects our everyday lives and what skills are required to become a communication professional . Let’s explore all these questions with some essays on communication.

This Blog Includes:

Essay on communication in 100 words, essay on communication in 200 words, essay on communication in 300 words.

Also Read: Essay on Freedom Fighters

Communication is the cornerstone of human interaction and is crucial to sharing ideas, thoughts and information. By communicating, people foster relationships, which is vital for personal and professional growth. Effective communication facilitates understanding, resolves conflicts, and promotes collaboration. Whether verbal or nonverbal, it forms the basis of successful teamwork, decision-making, and social integration.

Clear communication is key to a harmonious society, nurturing empathy, and building trust. It encourages brainstorming, creative thinking, and the development of new solutions to complex problems. Its impact is profound, shaping the way we interact, learn, and evolve, making it an indispensable tool for human connection and progress. 

What makes communication important is that it serves as the bedrock for exchanging ideas, information, and emotions. It is the essence of human interaction, enabling us to convey our thoughts, beliefs, and intentions to others. Effective communication is essential in every aspect of life, whether in personal relationships, professional environments, or social interactions.

Effective communication can form the basis of trust and mutual understanding and understanding. In personal relationships, communication fosters understanding and empathy, allowing individuals to express their feelings and needs, while also listening to and acknowledging others. 

In the professional realm. Communication allows the smooth functioning of organizations. With communication, individuals can disseminate information, set clear expectations and encourage collaboration among team members. Moreover, effective communication in the workplace enhances productivity and promotes a positive work culture.

The uses and benefits of communication are not limited to just personal and professional realms. In social environments also, communication allows diverse groups to understand each other’s cultures, beliefs, and values, promoting inclusivity and harmony in society.

You can call communication a fundamental pillar of human existence, as it helps in shaping our relationships, work environments, and societal interactions. Its effective practice is essential for nurturing empathy, building trust, and fostering a more connected and understanding world.

Also Read: Essay on the Importance of English Language

How crucial communication is can be explained by the fact that it allows the smooth transfer of ideas, thoughts, feelings and information. Communication is the lifeblood of human interaction, playing a crucial role in the exchange of ideas, information, and emotions. It serves as the cornerstone of relationships, both personal and professional, and is integral to the functioning of society as a whole. 

In personal relationships, it is essential to have effective communication for clear understanding and empathy. It allows individuals to express their thoughts, feelings, and needs, while also providing a platform for active listening and mutual support. Strong communication fosters trust and intimacy, enabling individuals to build meaningful and lasting connections with others.

Without communication, you might struggle for organizational success in the professional world. Clear and effective communication within a team or workplace ensures that tasks are understood, roles are defined, and goals are aligned. It enables efficient collaboration, problem-solving, and decision-making, contributing to a positive and productive work environment. Moreover, effective communication between employers and employees promotes a sense of transparency and fosters a healthy work culture.

In a broader sense, communication is vital for social integration and cultural understanding. It bridges the gaps between diverse groups, facilitating the exchange of values, beliefs, and perspectives. Effective communication fosters inclusivity and respect for cultural differences, contributing to a more harmonious and cohesive community.

However, communication is not just about sharing information and ideas. It also encompasses nonverbal cues such as body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice, all of which play a significant role in conveying meaning and emotions. It is the glue that binds individuals and communities together, fostering understanding, empathy, and collaboration. Practicing clear and empathetic communication is vital for creating a more connected, inclusive, and harmonious world.

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Communication is the process of exchanging ideas, information, thoughts and feelings between individuals or groups through the use of verbal and nonverbal methods.

To write an essay on communication, you need to describe what communication is, what the importance of communication in our lives and how it can help us know different aspects of life.

To become an effective communicator, you must become an active listener and understand what others have to say. You must learn to express your thoughts clearly and concisely. You also need to ensure your body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice perfectly align with your ideas.

For more information on such interesting topics, visit our essay writing page and follow Leverage Edu .

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Essay on Communication: Meaning, Process and Objectives

essay on types of communication

After reading this essay you will learn about:- 1. Meaning of Communication 2. Definition of Communication 3. Process 4. Objectives 5. Modes 6. The Organisational Context 7. Directions 8. Channels 9. Patterns 10. Barriers 11. Organisation-Level Improvements.

Essay on the Meaning of Communication:

The word communication has been derived from the Latin word communis which means common, besides commonality, communication involves the concept of transfer, meaning and information transfer. Thus communication means sharing ideas in common to one or many.

It means a verbal or written message, an change of information, a system of communicating, and a process by which meanings are exchanged between individuals/groups of individuals through a common system of symbols. It also means technique for expressing ideas effectively and quickly.

Essay on the Definition of Communication:

Communication is the process of transferring information, meaning and understanding from sender to receiver and vice versa. And carrying out that process convincingly, meaningfully and proficiently is an absolute essential for a manager to exercise leadership efficiently.

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In fact, it is hard to conceive of successful leadership in the absence of excellent communication skills. The first step for a manager to become an outstanding leader, therefore, is to become an outstanding communicator or perhaps best communicator.

Communication is defined as “the process of passing information in oral or written form and understanding from one person to another in oral or written form.” It means transmitting and sharing of ideas, opinions, facts, figures and information in a manner that is perceived and understood by the receiver of the communication.

F.E.X. Dance defined communication as “the process by which people seek to share meaning via the transmission of symbolic messages.”

Essay on the Process of Communication:

Process of Communication

The communications involves four actions and five components. The four actions are encoding, sending, receiving, and decoding. The five components are sender, message, medium, noise and receiver. The actions and components combine to transfer meaning from the sender who sends the message to the receiver. The sender who sends message originates the message by encoding it, that is, by constructing the message.

The message is the content of the communication. The sender then transmits the message through a medium. A medium is the mode or form of transmission of message, not the message itself. Examples of media are spoken words, gestures and fiscal expressions video.

Telephones, written memos, faxes and e-mail messages. The receiver acquires, or receives, the message by hearing it, reading it, or having it appear on a fax or computer through e-mail or voice mail.

The receiver then begins decoding the message, that is, interpreting it using various tools. Sometimes distractions interfere with the message; these interferences are called noise which leads to misunderstanding, noise contributes to misinterpretations of the original message, and it is only through feedback, or verification of the original message, that communication problems may be located, corrected and understood properly.

The basic model of communication is called as fundamental and universal model. That is, it occurs whenever communication takes place regardless of the culture or organisation and location.

However, while the basic acts and components of the communication process are the same everywhere, how the acts are carried out and the nature of the components are deeply influenced by cultural, organisational, and even personal contexts through this type of communication.

Who can send messages to whom, what kinds and what volumes of messages are sent, by what medium are messages transmitted what sort of interference or noise is likely to occur, and what cues are available for decoding are just some of the many examples of the types of communication issues that can vary from manager to manager, from organisation to organisation, from media to media and from country to country.

Essay on the Objectives of Communication:

Modern Organisation cannot exist without communication. If there is no communication, employees can’t know what their co-workers are doing, management can’t receive information inputs, and supervisors and team leaders cannot dive instructions and therefore communication is needed for effective management of the organisation.

Thus the followings are the objectives/importance of communication in the present context:

1. To develop information and understanding among all workers in the organisation.

2. To foster any attitude which is necessary for motivation and cooperation in the organization.

3. To encourage better performance and job satisfaction in the organization.

4. To prepare workers in the organization for a change in methods or environment by giving them the necessary information in advance.

5. To discourage misinformation, ambiguity and rumours in the organisation.

6. To encourage subordinates in the organisation to supply ideas and suggestions for improving upon the product or work environment, and taking these suggestions seriously.

7. To improve labour-management relations in the organization.

8. To encourage social relations among workers in the organisation by encouraging into communication.

9. To accomplish all the basic management functions— Planning, Organizing, Leading/directing and controlling in the organization.

10. To achieve their goals and meet challenges in the organization.

Essay on the Modes of Communication:

Communication can occur in the organization either a verbal mode or a non-verbal mode as given below. Each mode has particular characteristics in the organisation and issues that an effective manager must understand.

Verbal Mode of Communication

1. Verbal Communication:

Spoken words, which are called as verbal communication, mean both oral and written communication in the organization.

(i) Oral Communication:

The spoken word has the potential advantages of being vivid, stimulating and commanding attention in the organisation. In most organizational situations, it is difficult for receivers—the listeners—to ignore the words spoken or the person speaking to them in oral type of communication.

Just think about the last time someone spoke to you directly. Even if you weren’t interested in what the person had to say, wouldn’t it have been difficult to simply ignore the person, turn and walk away? Certainly not possible, hence, here it is mandatory to listen the person.

Also, oral communication is exceptionally flexible for both the sender and receiver in the organization. While you are speaking with another person, you may try to make a point a certain way but along the way change your words in order for the listener to understand you in a better way.

Because oral communication is generally interactive in the organisation, it can be quite responsive and adaptive to circumstances. However, this mode of communication in the organisation has the major disadvantages of being transistor and subject to considerable misinterpretation of messages.

Even when individuals use the same language in the oral communication, the subtle nuances of the spoken word may be missed or incorrect meaning attached to them. Oral communication between those whose First language differ in the organisation, as in many management situations today, simply multiplies the chances of intended meaning going away.

Advantages of Oral Communication in the Organisation:

1. It is direct, simple, timesaving and least expensive for any organisation.

2. It helps in avoiding delays, red tape and other formalities in the organization.

3. Feedback and spontaneous thinking are available in this type of communication which benefits organisation growth.

4. We can clear any misunderstanding between speakers.

5. It develops a sense of belonging because of personalized contacts in the organization.

Disadvantages of Oral Communication:

1. There is no any formal record for transaction in the organization.

2. Lengthy and distant communications cannot be effectively conveyed verbally in the organization.

3. The receiver may receive the message in his own perception and thus misunderstand the intent of the message in the organization.

4. The spirit of authority cannot be transmitted effectively in verbal transaction unless trust between speakers.

5. Different meaning may occur by manner of speaking, tune of voice and facial expressions in the organization.

(ii) Written Communication in Organisation:

Written communication is one when messages are put in writing, as in letters, memos, electronic mail, and the like, the opportunity for misunderstanding the words of the sender are decreased. The receiver of the message sent may still misinterpret the intended message, of course, but there is no uncertainty about exactly what words the sender has used.

In that sense, written communication has precision. However, not everyone writes well, and so greater precision does not necessarily lead to greater understanding in the organisation.

This is further complicated when the words need translation from one language to another for better understanding. The writer/sender does not know immediately how well or poorly the message is getting across, written communication has the disadvantage of not being very flexible in the organization.

In addition, it is often not as vivid or compelling as oral communication. Although you might find it difficult to ignore someone speaking to you, it would probably be much easier to ignore a letter you received in your organisation.

Advantages of Written Communication in the Organization:

1. It can easily verify and more precisely defined in the organization.

2. It is likely to be a permanent record and uses for future references in the organization.

3. It reduces the possibility of misunderstanding and misinterpretation in the organization.

4. It is reliable for transmitting lengthy statistical data in the organization.

5. The time can be saved when many persons should be contacted in the organization at the same time.

Disadvantages of Written Communication in the Organization:

1. It is very slow and causes delay in the organization.

2. Written material may leak out before time, causing disruption in its effectiveness in many organization.

3. More dependence of written communication can lead to too much of paper-work in the organization.

4. It leads to excessive formality in personal relations in the organization.

2. Nonverbal Communication in the Organization:

In direct interpersonal communication, nonverbal actions and behaviors often constitute significant messages in the organization. A whole range of actions, or lack of them, has the potential for communicating in the organization.

The way you dress, speak words, use gestures, handle utensils, exhibit facial expressions, and set the physical distance to the receiver are just some of the many forms of nonverbal communication in the organization.

Electronic Communication:

Now a day, electronic mail, or e-mail, has emerged as one of the fastest-growing forms of communication in the organisation. In the recent nationwide survey, 79 per cent of the responding executives indicated that e-mail was their number-one choice for business communication in their organisation.

With e-mail or faxes, you can send a message simultaneously to dozens or even hundreds of people throughout the world. Recently, Videoconferences have also emerged as a business communication too.

Essay # The Organisational Context of Communication:

Managers in the organization do not deal with communication in the abstract. Rather they deal with it within an organizational context. The structure of organisations and the process of organisations powerfully shape the nature and effectiveness of communication that takes place within and between them.

In the present setup Organizations, whether business, hospitals or government agencies, have a set of defining characteristics, all of which affect communication in one way or another.

Thus, organizations:

a) Are composed of individuals and groups.

b) Are oriented towards goals

c) Have differentiated functions.

d) Has intended coordination.

e) Have continuity through time.

Organizations of any size, regardless of country, are not simply a random set of individuals who by chance come together for a brief period with no purpose. The fact that they have goal orientations, structures, and coordination greatly influences the nature and amount of communication that takes place in the organization.

This influence can be analyzed in terms of directions, channels and patterns of communication in the organization.

Essay # Directions of Communication within Organizations:

Because organizations of any degree of complexity have both differentiated functions and more than one level in the organisation, the directions of communication within them can be classified according to the level for which they are intended.

Downward communication is sent from higher organizational levels to lower levels in the organisation; for example, from the organization’s top executives like to its employees, or from supervisors to subordinates.

Directions of Communication within Organizations

Upward Communication is sent from lower organizational levels to higher levels; for example, from non-management employees like workers to their supervisors, or from a manager to her CEOs.

Lateral Communication is sent across essentially equivalent levels of an organization; for example, from one clerical to another, from the manager of product X to the manager of product Y, or from the marketing department to the engineering design department in the organisation.

The topics covered in organizational communication vary according to their direction. Downward communication typically involves such matters as goals, objectives, directions, decisions, and feedback in the organisation.

Upward communication usually focuses on information, suggestions, questions, problems and requests for clarification in the organisation. Lateral communication typically involves changes of information-both formal and informal-that assist or affect coordination and joint problem solving in the organization.

While the subject matter of communication in particular direction tends to be fairly similar in most medium to large organizations, the culture of the organization can affect the process. For example, in an organization where authority and hierarchy are stressed, upward communication might be more formal than in an organization with more egalitarian culture.

As a simple illustration, in the hierarchical organization, a conversion might start with the subordinate addressing a superior several levels above as Mr. Or Ms. James.

In many countries, for example in Korea, the conversion might start by addressing the superior by his or her title, such as Director Park. In organizations with less emphasis on hierarchy, the conversation might start by addressing the superior by his or her first name.

Likewise, organizational or country culture can influence the frequency and flavor of upward communications. For example, in organizations with strong hierarchical values, upward communication tends to be less frequent.

In summary, organizational communications flow upward, laterally, and downward in every organization. The direction of the communication has a significant impact on the type of communication that is likely to take place frequently.

However, the culture of the organization and the region or country in which the organization is located can further determine the exact from that communication will have and even the frequency of each direction of communication will take place in organization.

Essay # Channels of Communication within Organizations:

Organizational channels, or routes of communication, consist of two fundamental types namely formal and informal. Both types are essential for organizational functioning, and neither types can easily substitute for the other.

Formal Communication channels are those that are authorized planned and regulated by the organization and that are directly connected to its official structure. Thus, the organization’s designated structure indicates the normal paths for downward, upward and lateral formal communication. Formal communication channels are like highlighted roads on road map.

They specify organizational members who are responsible for tasks and communicating information to levels above and below them and back and forth to adjacent units. Also, formal channels indicate the persons or positions to whom work-related messages should be sent in the organization. Formal channels can be modified, and thus they have some flexibility, but they can seldom be disregarded in the organization.

The wheel or star network refers to an administrator and four subordinates with whom he interacts in the organisation. There is no interaction among the subordinates in the organization.

In ‘y’ network; there are two subordinates reporting to the superior.

The “chain” in the network, denotes a five-level hierarchy in which communication can take place only upward and downward, and across organizational lines in modern organizations.

The circle network denotes a three level hierarchy in which there is communication between superiors and subordinates, with cross communication at the operative level.

Informal communication channels are communication routes that are not prescribed by the organization but that develop through typical interpersonal activities of people at work in the organisation. Channels can come into existence and change or disappear rapidly, depending on circumstances in the organization.

However, they may also endure in many work situations, especially where individuals have been working together over a period of time in the organization. If a specific pattern becomes well established, it would ordinarily be called a ‘network’ in the organisation.

There are four major type of informal communication in the organisation.

They are as follows:

(1) Single strand.

(2) Gossip.

(3) Probability.

(4) Cluster.

In the single stranded network, the individual communicates through intervening persons in the organisation. In the gossip network, the individual communicates or spreads like anything without a choice in the organisation. In probability network, the individual spreads the communication at random in the organisation.

But in the cluster network, the individual communicates with only those individuals whom he trusts in the organisation. Among these types of communication network, the cluster is most popular network in many organisation.

Essay # Formal and Informal Channels of Communication in Organization:

In a Plastic Bottle manufacturing company the CEO has got two immediate managers one is GM-marketing who markets plastic bottle and another one is GM-production who manufactures Plastic Bottle. The GM-marketing has got two subordinates one is advertising manager and the second one is promotions manager.

Likewise the GM-Production has got two immediate subordinates, one is supervisor design and another one is supervisor testing. If CEO communicates to GM-Marketing or GM-Production it is called as formal channels of communication. However, if CEO contacts Advertising manager or supervisor testing it is called INFORMAL channels of communication.

Formal Communication Channels:

a) Authorized, Planned and regulated by the organization.

b) Reflect the organization’s formal structure.

c) Define who has responsibility for information dissemination and indicate the proper recipients of work-related information in organization.

d) Maybe modified by the organization in future.

e) Minor to severe consequences for ignoring them unknowingly.

Informal Communication Channels:

a) Develop through interpersonal activities of organisation members

b) Hot specified by the organization

c) Man is short-lived or long lasting.

d) Are more often lateral than vertical in organization.

e) Information flow can be very fast in organization.

f) Used for both work-related and non-work information.

Some more informal communication Channels in the organization are as follows:

a) Informal Communication Channels tend to operate more often in the lateral than in the vertical direction compared to formal channels because they are not designated by the organization and its top officials.

b) Second, information flowing through informal channels in the organization often moves extremely fast, principally because senders are highly motivated to pass information on. The so-called grapevine is a classic example of rapid transmission of messages through informal channels.

c) A third feature is that informal channels carry work- related as well as non-work information in the organisation. Just because channels are informal does not mean that only gossip and other messages unrelated to jobs and tasks are carried by them. In fact, crucial work-related information is frequently communicated in this way.

Of course, some of the messages passed through the informal channels in the organisation may contain inaccuracies or be negative, and thus seen by some managers as a source of problems. However, few organizations could exist for long if they had to rely only on formal communication channels in the organisation.

Essay # Patterns of Organizational Communication in the Organisation:

Identifiable patterns of communication that occur with some regularity within and between organizations, whether using formal or informal channels, are typically called communication networks in any organisation. Put another way, communication networks are stable systems of interconnections in any organisation.

Thus, networks involve consistent linkages between particular sets of senders and receivers in the organisation. For example, a middle-level divisional marketing manager in New Delhi might have a particular network that involves her boss in Kolkata, three key managers in other departments in the Kolkata headquarters, her seven subordinates located in major Western cities, and two outside vendors of market research data.

Another network for the same manager might involve two lower-level managers in other units in the New Delhi office and their former colleague and old friend who is now a sales supervisor in Chennai and who has access to inside information on how well new marketing approaches are working in that region.

An example of a larger, more organization wide network could be the Coca Cola Company’s worldwide pattern of communication relationships between its headquarters in Atlanta and its bottlers and distributors throughout world. Of course, networks can also be formed across organizations as well as within the organisation.

The importance of communication networks to managers in any organisation is that they can provide significant and regular sources of information, both of the formal and informal type, that might otherwise take a much longer time to obtain if the various links had to set up from scratch each time some new topic or problem came up.

Also, when managers are members of established networks, it can make it easier for them to influence the other people or groups involved in the networks. Consequently, for both of these reasons, managers need to pay particular attention to what networks they can, and want to, be a part of and to the composition of those networks in the organisation.

It is no accident that the term networking has come to signify a process that has the potential for gaining advantages for a manger (or anyone for that matter) by having one or more sets of individuals in the organisation or groups with which one can interact easily and regularly, and with whom one can communicate a sense of confidence and trust in the organisation.

In traditional western organizations, it has always been relatively easy for males in management positions to establish various network with other males (thus providing the basis for the phase “old boys network” ) in their organisation. However, at least until very recently, it has been much harder for women and members of underrepresented ethnic groups to establish similar helpful networks in their organisations

Recent research suggests, in fact, that organizational networks involving individuals from these groups are different in terms of both composition and relationships from the traditional networks composed primarily of white males in the organisation.

It does not make such networks any less important or useful to managers from these groups, but docs serve to emphasize that network patterns to communication in organisations can vary based on a number of different situational circumstance, including the age, gender, and ethnicity of individuals in the organisation.

Essay # Barriers to Communication in the Organisation:

Although the organisational context provides numerous opportunities for managers to engage in effective and productive communication to assist in leadership efforts, there are likewise many barriers related to that context that can interfere with the communication process in the present organisation.

Such barriers can arise from several different sources, including interpersonal, organisational, organizational, and cultural in the organization.

Barriers to Communication in the Organisation

Obstacles to interpersonal communication in the organisation can occur with either the sender or the receiver. The burden is simultaneously on both the sender and the receiver in any organisation to ensure accurate communication.

It is, however, the sender’s obligation to choose the language and words—to encode the message—carefully to carry the greatest precision of meaning. Precision in the organisation is especially important if the sender is trying to persuade the receiver to do something in a language or communication style different from what the receiver prefers.

For example, if you are talking with your boss style and choice of words, your boss may not be receptive if he or she prefers a more formal approach in the organisation. You will probably need to adjust your style for the communication to be effective in the organisation.

The receiver, of course, is often the source of communication breakdowns in the organisation. For example, the receiver might have a selective perception problem in the organisation. That is, the receiver may unintentionally screen out some parts of the intended message because they contradict his beliefs or desires in the organisation.

For example, you might stress the increased productivity in the organisation from a proposed project, but your boss is focusing on the estimated cost of the project. Although selective perception is a natural human tendency, it hinders accurate communication, especially when sensitive or highly important topics are being discussed in the organisation.

Another way to state this point is that individuals tend to adopt frames of reference, or quick ways of interpreting messages in the organisation that help them make sense of complex communications, but these shortcuts may prevent the intended message from being received.

Essay # Organisational Barriers:

Just as interpersonal barriers can limit communication, so can organisational barriers limit communication? Such barriers in the organisation can interfere with communication between individuals or groups within the same organisation, between individuals or groups from two different organisations, or between entire organizations.

The basis of these organisational barriers lies within the hierarchical structure of organizations.

All organisations of any complexity have specialized functions and more than one level of authority in the organisation. This specialization creates a situation that is ripe for communication difficulties in the organisation.

For example one person might come from marketing and the other form Production. The person in marketing might think nothing of exaggerating while the person from Production always understates her points.

Consequently, the marketer might see the Production Manager as unimaginative and boring, while the Production Manager might view the marketer as superficial and careless. In addition, the two parties might come from different levels in the organisation.

The differences between responsibility and level of authority could cause a senior executive to expect an explanation of the broad impacts on the entire organization of a proposed project and a junior technical expert to focus on the detailed schedule of the project in any organisation.

Essay # Cultural Burriers in Organization:

Communication and culture are tightly intervened in the organisation. Culture cannot exist without communication and human communication only within a cultural context in the organisation. Since the act of communicating is so closely connected to the surrounding environment, culture can ease or hinder it in the organisation.

Thus, similarity in culture between senders and receivers facilitates successful communication-the intended meaning has a higher probability of getting transferred in the organisation.

Differences in culture hinder the process of-any organisation. The greater the cultural differences between sender and receiver, the greater the expected difficulty in communicating within or outside the organisation. Therefore, other things being equal, it should be easier, for example, for an Indian manager to communicate with a Singapore subordinate than with a Malaysian subordinate.

Probably the greatest single cultural barrier that can affect communication across different departmental, organisational, regional, or national cultures is ethnocentrism in the organisation.

Ethnocentrism is the belief in the superiority of one’s own groups and the related tendency to view others in terms of the values of one’s own group in the organisation. Ethnocentrism leads individuals to divide their interpersonal worlds into in-groups and out-groups in the organisation.

A third major cultural barrier to communication I can be labeled cultural distance in the organisation. This concept refers to the overall difference between two cultures basic characteristics such as language, level of economic development, and entrenched traditions and customs in the organisation.

Cultural distance was illustrated by a study that gathered 21 senior executives from major corporations in Japan, the United States, Brazil, the United Kingdom and India for a five-week period of cultural explorations regarding communication.

The executives attended lecturers and seminars, built rafts and climbed riffs together, and even travelled in fact-finding teams to the countries represented to improve communication, nevertheless, observers reported that communication remained a problem the entire five weeks among them.

The various barriers that were discussed in the preceding section can interfere with effective communication, but there are ways of dealing with, or overcoming, them in the organisation. That is the subject of this section – approaches that will help to improve your communication in the organisation as a manager.

Essay # Organisation-Level Improvements in Communication:

Organisations can take steps to change their policies and methods for how and when managers should communicate in the organisation. Unfortunately, guidelines for this more structural approach are not as well developed as those for individual managers in the organisation.

A recent study of research and development laboratories within 14 large multinational firms, however, did provide some suggestions. The study produced strong evidence for the importance of gatekeepers, or so-called “boundary-spanning” individuals who are at the communication interface between separate organizations or between units within an organisation.

Large companies especially need to be able to structure the activities of gatekeepers to maximize their usefulness to the communication process and to make sure that the most critical information is both sent and received.

Finding from the study indicated that communication could be improved by implementing rules and procedures that increased formal communication, replacing some face-to-face communication with electronic communication, developing particular communication networks, and even creating a centralized office to manage communication activities in the organization.

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Essay on Importance of Communication for Students and Children

500+ words essay on importance of communication:.

Communication is one of the important tools that aid us to connect with people. Either you are a student or a working professional, good communication is something that will connect you far ahead. Proper communication can help you to solve a number of issues and resolve problems. This is the reason that one must know how to communicate well. The skills of communication essential to be developed so that you are able to interact with people. And able to share your thoughts and reach out to them. All this needs the correct guidance and self-analysis as well.

essay on importance of communication

Meaning of Communication

The word communication is basically a process of interaction with the people and their environment . Through such type of interactions, two or more individuals influence the ideas, beliefs, and attitudes of each other.

Such interactions happen through the exchange of information through words, gestures, signs, symbols, and expressions. In organizations, communication is an endless process of giving and receiving information and to build social relationships.

Importance of Communication

Communication is not merely essential but the need of the hour. It allows you to get the trust of the people and at the same time carry better opportunities before you. Some important points are as follows –

Help to Build Relationships 

No matter either you are studying or working, communication can aid you to build a relationship with the people. If you are studying you communicate with classmates and teachers to build a relationship with them. Likewise in offices and organizations too, you make relationships with the staff, your boss and other people around.

Improve the Working Environment 

There are a number of issues which can be handled through the right and effective communication. Even planning needs communication both written as well as verbal. Hence it is essential to be good in them so as to fill in the communication gap.

Foster strong team

Communication helps to build a strong team environment in the office and other places. Any work which requires to be done in a team. It is only possible if the head communicates everything well and in the right direction.

Find the right solutions

Through communication, anyone can find solutions to even serious problems. When we talk, we get ideas from people that aid us to solve the issues. This is where communication comes into play. Powerful communication is the strength of any organization and can help it in many ways.

Earns more respect

If your communication skills are admirable, people will love and give you respect. If there is any problem, you will be the first person to be contacted. Thus it will increase your importance. Hence you can say that communications skills can make a big change to your reputation in society.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Don’t Go Overboard With Your Point

The conversation is about to express your thoughts. And to let the other person know what you feel. It is not mean to prove that your point is correct and the other person is wrong. Don’t Overboard other With Your Point.

Watch Your Words

Before you say something to Watch Your Words. At times, out of anger or anxiousness, we say somethings that we must not say. Whenever you are in a professional meeting or in some formal place, where there is a necessity of communicating about your product or work then it is advised to practice the same beforehand

Communication is the greatest importance. It is important to sharing out one’s thoughts and feelings to live a fuller and happier life. The more we communicate the less we suffer and the better we feel about everything around. However, it is all the more necessary to learn the art of effective communication to put across ones point well.

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  • The four main types of essay | Quick guide with examples

The Four Main Types of Essay | Quick Guide with Examples

Published on September 4, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

An essay is a focused piece of writing designed to inform or persuade. There are many different types of essay, but they are often defined in four categories: argumentative, expository, narrative, and descriptive essays.

Argumentative and expository essays are focused on conveying information and making clear points, while narrative and descriptive essays are about exercising creativity and writing in an interesting way. At university level, argumentative essays are the most common type. 

In high school and college, you will also often have to write textual analysis essays, which test your skills in close reading and interpretation.

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Table of contents

Argumentative essays, expository essays, narrative essays, descriptive essays, textual analysis essays, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about types of essays.

An argumentative essay presents an extended, evidence-based argument. It requires a strong thesis statement —a clearly defined stance on your topic. Your aim is to convince the reader of your thesis using evidence (such as quotations ) and analysis.

Argumentative essays test your ability to research and present your own position on a topic. This is the most common type of essay at college level—most papers you write will involve some kind of argumentation.

The essay is divided into an introduction, body, and conclusion:

  • The introduction provides your topic and thesis statement
  • The body presents your evidence and arguments
  • The conclusion summarizes your argument and emphasizes its importance

The example below is a paragraph from the body of an argumentative essay about the effects of the internet on education. Mouse over it to learn more.

A common frustration for teachers is students’ use of Wikipedia as a source in their writing. Its prevalence among students is not exaggerated; a survey found that the vast majority of the students surveyed used Wikipedia (Head & Eisenberg, 2010). An article in The Guardian stresses a common objection to its use: “a reliance on Wikipedia can discourage students from engaging with genuine academic writing” (Coomer, 2013). Teachers are clearly not mistaken in viewing Wikipedia usage as ubiquitous among their students; but the claim that it discourages engagement with academic sources requires further investigation. This point is treated as self-evident by many teachers, but Wikipedia itself explicitly encourages students to look into other sources. Its articles often provide references to academic publications and include warning notes where citations are missing; the site’s own guidelines for research make clear that it should be used as a starting point, emphasizing that users should always “read the references and check whether they really do support what the article says” (“Wikipedia:Researching with Wikipedia,” 2020). Indeed, for many students, Wikipedia is their first encounter with the concepts of citation and referencing. The use of Wikipedia therefore has a positive side that merits deeper consideration than it often receives.

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An expository essay provides a clear, focused explanation of a topic. It doesn’t require an original argument, just a balanced and well-organized view of the topic.

Expository essays test your familiarity with a topic and your ability to organize and convey information. They are commonly assigned at high school or in exam questions at college level.

The introduction of an expository essay states your topic and provides some general background, the body presents the details, and the conclusion summarizes the information presented.

A typical body paragraph from an expository essay about the invention of the printing press is shown below. Mouse over it to learn more.

The invention of the printing press in 1440 changed this situation dramatically. Johannes Gutenberg, who had worked as a goldsmith, used his knowledge of metals in the design of the press. He made his type from an alloy of lead, tin, and antimony, whose durability allowed for the reliable production of high-quality books. This new technology allowed texts to be reproduced and disseminated on a much larger scale than was previously possible. The Gutenberg Bible appeared in the 1450s, and a large number of printing presses sprang up across the continent in the following decades. Gutenberg’s invention rapidly transformed cultural production in Europe; among other things, it would lead to the Protestant Reformation.

A narrative essay is one that tells a story. This is usually a story about a personal experience you had, but it may also be an imaginative exploration of something you have not experienced.

Narrative essays test your ability to build up a narrative in an engaging, well-structured way. They are much more personal and creative than other kinds of academic writing . Writing a personal statement for an application requires the same skills as a narrative essay.

A narrative essay isn’t strictly divided into introduction, body, and conclusion, but it should still begin by setting up the narrative and finish by expressing the point of the story—what you learned from your experience, or why it made an impression on you.

Mouse over the example below, a short narrative essay responding to the prompt “Write about an experience where you learned something about yourself,” to explore its structure.

Since elementary school, I have always favored subjects like science and math over the humanities. My instinct was always to think of these subjects as more solid and serious than classes like English. If there was no right answer, I thought, why bother? But recently I had an experience that taught me my academic interests are more flexible than I had thought: I took my first philosophy class.

Before I entered the classroom, I was skeptical. I waited outside with the other students and wondered what exactly philosophy would involve—I really had no idea. I imagined something pretty abstract: long, stilted conversations pondering the meaning of life. But what I got was something quite different.

A young man in jeans, Mr. Jones—“but you can call me Rob”—was far from the white-haired, buttoned-up old man I had half-expected. And rather than pulling us into pedantic arguments about obscure philosophical points, Rob engaged us on our level. To talk free will, we looked at our own choices. To talk ethics, we looked at dilemmas we had faced ourselves. By the end of class, I’d discovered that questions with no right answer can turn out to be the most interesting ones.

The experience has taught me to look at things a little more “philosophically”—and not just because it was a philosophy class! I learned that if I let go of my preconceptions, I can actually get a lot out of subjects I was previously dismissive of. The class taught me—in more ways than one—to look at things with an open mind.

A descriptive essay provides a detailed sensory description of something. Like narrative essays, they allow you to be more creative than most academic writing, but they are more tightly focused than narrative essays. You might describe a specific place or object, rather than telling a whole story.

Descriptive essays test your ability to use language creatively, making striking word choices to convey a memorable picture of what you’re describing.

A descriptive essay can be quite loosely structured, though it should usually begin by introducing the object of your description and end by drawing an overall picture of it. The important thing is to use careful word choices and figurative language to create an original description of your object.

Mouse over the example below, a response to the prompt “Describe a place you love to spend time in,” to learn more about descriptive essays.

On Sunday afternoons I like to spend my time in the garden behind my house. The garden is narrow but long, a corridor of green extending from the back of the house, and I sit on a lawn chair at the far end to read and relax. I am in my small peaceful paradise: the shade of the tree, the feel of the grass on my feet, the gentle activity of the fish in the pond beside me.

My cat crosses the garden nimbly and leaps onto the fence to survey it from above. From his perch he can watch over his little kingdom and keep an eye on the neighbours. He does this until the barking of next door’s dog scares him from his post and he bolts for the cat flap to govern from the safety of the kitchen.

With that, I am left alone with the fish, whose whole world is the pond by my feet. The fish explore the pond every day as if for the first time, prodding and inspecting every stone. I sometimes feel the same about sitting here in the garden; I know the place better than anyone, but whenever I return I still feel compelled to pay attention to all its details and novelties—a new bird perched in the tree, the growth of the grass, and the movement of the insects it shelters…

Sitting out in the garden, I feel serene. I feel at home. And yet I always feel there is more to discover. The bounds of my garden may be small, but there is a whole world contained within it, and it is one I will never get tired of inhabiting.

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Though every essay type tests your writing skills, some essays also test your ability to read carefully and critically. In a textual analysis essay, you don’t just present information on a topic, but closely analyze a text to explain how it achieves certain effects.

Rhetorical analysis

A rhetorical analysis looks at a persuasive text (e.g. a speech, an essay, a political cartoon) in terms of the rhetorical devices it uses, and evaluates their effectiveness.

The goal is not to state whether you agree with the author’s argument but to look at how they have constructed it.

The introduction of a rhetorical analysis presents the text, some background information, and your thesis statement; the body comprises the analysis itself; and the conclusion wraps up your analysis of the text, emphasizing its relevance to broader concerns.

The example below is from a rhetorical analysis of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech . Mouse over it to learn more.

King’s speech is infused with prophetic language throughout. Even before the famous “dream” part of the speech, King’s language consistently strikes a prophetic tone. He refers to the Lincoln Memorial as a “hallowed spot” and speaks of rising “from the dark and desolate valley of segregation” to “make justice a reality for all of God’s children.” The assumption of this prophetic voice constitutes the text’s strongest ethical appeal; after linking himself with political figures like Lincoln and the Founding Fathers, King’s ethos adopts a distinctly religious tone, recalling Biblical prophets and preachers of change from across history. This adds significant force to his words; standing before an audience of hundreds of thousands, he states not just what the future should be, but what it will be: “The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.” This warning is almost apocalyptic in tone, though it concludes with the positive image of the “bright day of justice.” The power of King’s rhetoric thus stems not only from the pathos of his vision of a brighter future, but from the ethos of the prophetic voice he adopts in expressing this vision.

Literary analysis

A literary analysis essay presents a close reading of a work of literature—e.g. a poem or novel—to explore the choices made by the author and how they help to convey the text’s theme. It is not simply a book report or a review, but an in-depth interpretation of the text.

Literary analysis looks at things like setting, characters, themes, and figurative language. The goal is to closely analyze what the author conveys and how.

The introduction of a literary analysis essay presents the text and background, and provides your thesis statement; the body consists of close readings of the text with quotations and analysis in support of your argument; and the conclusion emphasizes what your approach tells us about the text.

Mouse over the example below, the introduction to a literary analysis essay on Frankenstein , to learn more.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is often read as a crude cautionary tale about the dangers of scientific advancement unrestrained by ethical considerations. In this reading, protagonist Victor Frankenstein is a stable representation of the callous ambition of modern science throughout the novel. This essay, however, argues that far from providing a stable image of the character, Shelley uses shifting narrative perspectives to portray Frankenstein in an increasingly negative light as the novel goes on. While he initially appears to be a naive but sympathetic idealist, after the creature’s narrative Frankenstein begins to resemble—even in his own telling—the thoughtlessly cruel figure the creature represents him as. This essay begins by exploring the positive portrayal of Frankenstein in the first volume, then moves on to the creature’s perception of him, and finally discusses the third volume’s narrative shift toward viewing Frankenstein as the creature views him.

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At high school and in composition classes at university, you’ll often be told to write a specific type of essay , but you might also just be given prompts.

Look for keywords in these prompts that suggest a certain approach: The word “explain” suggests you should write an expository essay , while the word “describe” implies a descriptive essay . An argumentative essay might be prompted with the word “assess” or “argue.”

The vast majority of essays written at university are some sort of argumentative essay . Almost all academic writing involves building up an argument, though other types of essay might be assigned in composition classes.

Essays can present arguments about all kinds of different topics. For example:

  • In a literary analysis essay, you might make an argument for a specific interpretation of a text
  • In a history essay, you might present an argument for the importance of a particular event
  • In a politics essay, you might argue for the validity of a certain political theory

An argumentative essay tends to be a longer essay involving independent research, and aims to make an original argument about a topic. Its thesis statement makes a contentious claim that must be supported in an objective, evidence-based way.

An expository essay also aims to be objective, but it doesn’t have to make an original argument. Rather, it aims to explain something (e.g., a process or idea) in a clear, concise way. Expository essays are often shorter assignments and rely less on research.

The key difference is that a narrative essay is designed to tell a complete story, while a descriptive essay is meant to convey an intense description of a particular place, object, or concept.

Narrative and descriptive essays both allow you to write more personally and creatively than other kinds of essays , and similar writing skills can apply to both.

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Is Your Workplace Communication Style As Effective As It Could Be?

Knowing your personal communication style—and adapting that style to the needs of your team—will help avoid misunderstandings and keep your team operating at peak effectiveness.

Mary Sharp Emerson

Your communication style and how you communicate with your team plays a critical role in how effective you are as a leader.

When thinking about how you communicate as a leader, it’s easy to focus on the basics. And indeed, there are many things you can do to improve your communication skills . 

However, truly effective communication requires a more comprehensive approach than simply choosing your words carefully. 

Your communication style can have a tremendous impact — positive or negative — on your ability to lead teams and organizations. Developing the ability to adapt your style to meet the needs of your team will help to create a positive workplace culture that motivates your team to work together for common goals. 

Once you understand your own communication style, you can begin to assess — and help your team members assess—their communication styles. 

This knowledge will help you — and your team — develop flexible communication techniques to improve how you communicate with your team and how your team communicates with each other. 

Types of Communication Styles — and How to Work With Them

People are more complex than any typology or framework. While we can divide communication styles into four types, most people don’t fit 100 percent into one particular category.

Still, a framework can be a useful way to assess your own style, and it offers a useful tool to discuss communication tactics with your team.

Here’s an overview of the four different styles of communication, and what they mean for your workplace:

Direct 

The direct ( analytical or dominant ) communicator prefers direct, no-frills communication, backed by hard facts. They are highly focused on the end result and are generally risk-tolerant. 

What you should know : Direct communicators can be intense and very blunt. They lack subtlety and are uncomfortable with ambiguity. They are more likely to give commands than make polite requests. They struggle with small talk and emotional decision-making.

When working with a direct communicator: it’s most effective to be clear and concise, and avoid unnecessary details. While dominant communicators must continually work on patience and sensitivity, co-workers should try to avoid taking their bluntness and lack of subtlety as personal criticism. 

Functional 

The functional communicator (conscientious, sometimes also called analytical) likes process, precision, and details. They analyze a project or problem from multiple perspectives to ensure that every possible angle has been considered. 

What you should know: Functional communicators enjoy learning and demonstrating new skills. They thrive in environments with clear expectations, firm deadlines, and the opportunity to work independently. 

When working with a functional communicator: expect them to ask many questions before they feel comfortable moving forward. They may struggle with “big picture” thinking if they feel it’s not well thought-out. Like the direct communicator, they are uncomfortable with small talk and emotional decision-making. 

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Collaborative

Collaborative communicators are sometimes called harmonizers (also steady or intuitive). They are focused on people over end results. Their goal is to find solutions that work for everyone.

What you should know : Collaborative communicators work best in an environment that prioritizes cooperation, loyalty, and stability. They are great at thinking about the big picture, but can struggle with decision-making. They may not feel comfortable moving forward until everyone on the team has had a chance to provide input. 

When working with a collaborative communicator : ensure that you listen before issuing directives; they will resist being told what to do if they feel their perspective has not been heard. Because they can, at times, struggle keeping track of small details, managers and co-workers should be prepared for multiple follow-up conversations throughout a project to help harmonizers make decisions and stay on track.

Influencer 

The classic “people person”, the influencer (personal or expressive communicator) believes that the emotional connections among team members bring success. They focus on building interpersonal relationships and are great collaborators.

What you should know : Influencers are more focused on “the why” than “the how”, and are excellent visionaries. They prefer informal discussions to formal meetings, and enjoy friendly small talk among team members. They are very comfortable expressing their feelings and navigating emotional decision-making. 

When working with an influencer: enable them to collaborate to maximize their potential. They may need help developing practical solutions. Because they can struggle with details and follow-through, organizing projects with short timeframes can be helpful. 

Not sure where you fit into this framework?

Online questionnaires such as the DiSCProfile or LeadershipIQ can help you with your self-assessment. And a group activity focused on communication styles can be a great team-building exercise.

Adopting Flexible Communication Styles

Wherever you fall in this framework, your goal should be to adapt your style of communication to meet the needs of your employees. 

For example, many leaders are naturally direct communicators. 

However, a direct communication style may be counterproductive when working with employees who lean toward a steady or influencer-style of communication. For an influencer, for example, an unwillingness to share weekend plans may be seen as lack of interest in their well-being. A direct, “tell-it-like-it-is” style of communication may be interpreted as overly critical to an employee who is sensitive to criticism, no matter how constructive.

How can you adopt a more flexible communication style?

Be honest with yourself about how you communicate. Honest self-assessment, as difficult as it can be, is always the first step to embracing necessary change.

Analyze past miscommunications to think about what went wrong. Again, be honest about the part your communication style might have played in that situation. Identify ways that you might have approached the situation differently to achieve a more constructive outcome.

Practice active listening . Active listening requires clearing your mind of potential responses so you can really hear the other side of the conversation. Repeating back what you heard (“what I hear you saying is…”) before you reply lets the other person know they were heard. 

Improve your emotional intelligence . Emotional intelligence involves self-awareness, self-control, and social awareness. If you can improve your own emotional intelligence, you’ll find yourself more capable of adapting your communication style to meet the needs of others.

Take a professional development program focused on communication. Program instructors can guide self-assessment, offer new communication techniques, and provide an outside perspective on how to become more flexible in how you communicate with your team.

Misunderstandings and miscommunications are an inevitable part of human interactions. However, by thinking about how you communicate — as well as what you communicate — you can create a team environment conducive to open, productive, professional conversations. And doing so will keep your team engaged and your organization on the road to success.

Ready to get started? Find the program that’s right for you.

Browse all Professional & Executive Development programs.

About the Author

Digital Content Producer

Emerson is a Digital Content Producer at Harvard DCE. She is a graduate of Brandeis University and Yale University and started her career as an international affairs analyst. She is an avid triathlete and has completed three Ironman triathlons, as well as the Boston Marathon.

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Home / Essay Samples / Sociology / Communication Skills / The Importance of Effective Communication: The Key to Success

The Importance of Effective Communication: The Key to Success

  • Category: Sociology
  • Topic: Communication Skills , Effective Communication , Interpersonal Communication

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Importance , communication, types of communication, verbal communication, non-verbal communication, written communications, visual communication, intrapersonal communication, interpersonal communication.

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