Communication processes are an essential part not only in social relationships, but at an organizational level, within the business context. Organizational communication allows messages to be transmitted and received and group and work cohesion to be maintained among workers.
This is why more and more companies choose to hire people who are responsible for managing, stimulating and improving communication in the company. There are different types of organizational communication , according to some parameters. Let’s see what each of them consists of.
Organizational communication is that communication that occurs in companies, either through their employees or in relation to the organizational context It encompasses all those messages, behaviors and attitudes that are emitted in the work context, with the purpose of transmitting an idea, an objective, a task, etc. It also has to do with the identity of the company.
Thus, it is an essential part of every company, since through effective organizational communication, it is possible to create an adequate work environment, as well as keep all its members informed about the relevant topics necessary to carry out work activity. in an efficient way.
That is why today it is very common to find a professional dedicated entirely to developing this field, through the creation of strategies and the implementation of processes and tools that facilitate fluid communication between company workers. company.
At the same time, These communication professionals also work on the image that the company projects outside , in society or in the business fabric (configuring your business identity, your “brand”); That is, they are in charge of managing what messages the company sends and how it sends them (whether through social networks, advertising, etc.).
Depending on the type of communication (specifically, at what level the communication occurs, whether inside or outside the company), we find two types of organizational communication: internal and external. Let’s learn what each of them consists of, in addition to their subtypes:
1. Internal communication
The internal communication of a company is what occurs within it, between its employees. This It is carried out through meetings, communications, reception manuals, brochures , etc. In turn, we find different types of internal organizational communication, depending on the classification parameters we use:
1. 1. According to its degree of formality
Depending on its character or typology (or degree of formality), internal organizational communication can be of two types: formal and informal.
Formal internal organizational communication It is made up of all those messages that are issued and received among the company’s workers, through official events, such as meetings, assemblies… That is, it is a communication that has a more “official” character.
This is information that is usually recorded, through meeting proceedings, for example. That is why you can go to it if needed.
Informal internal organizational communication It is the one that has a less formal, less official character; That is, it encompasses interaction situations between the members of a company, when they are talking and exchanging messages or impressions during their rest time, for example.
This is usually oral communication; It is what allows us to promote a good work environment
1.2. Depending on the direction of the information
Thus, internal communication can also be of three types, if we look at the criterion of which direction the flow of information follows: ascending, descending and horizontal. For communication within a company to be effective and productive, these three types must occur: ascending, descending or horizontal.
The first of the types of internal organizational communication according to its direction is upward: this consists of communication that is transmitted “from the bottom up”, that is, from the workers (“peons”) to their department heads, area heads and managers In other words, it is the information that the lower ranks communicate to the intermediate and high ranks (at a hierarchical level).
How is this type of communication carried out? Through different channels and tools: meetings, suggestion forms, surveys, interviews, etc.
Descending internal communication is that which goes “from top to bottom” , that is, from the bosses or managers, to their workers. That is, at a hierarchical level, it is the information that high-ranking workers transmit to intermediate and lower ranks.
It is carried out through meetings, telephone calls, letters, brochures, reports, speeches, instructions (oral or written), etc.
Finally, the third of the types of organizational communication according to its direction, is horizontal communication; this It occurs between co-workers who are in the same rank or hierarchical level (for example between department heads, area heads, workers, etc.).
Like the previous ones, it can take different channels or routes; meetings, informal chats between colleagues, calls, emails, etc. This type of communication allows us to promote cohesion between workers and teams, improving their work and personal relationship.
2. External communication
The second type of organizational communication, depending on the level at which it occurs, is external communication; This encompasses the communication processes that occur to make the company known outside.
It has more to do with advertising issues, the image that is projected of the company, social networks, etc It also allows us to know the opinion that people outside the company, of the company itself, have (that is, what society thinks of the company).
Thus, external communication is made up, in addition to advertising, of press releases, communications, information brochures, etc.
Components
There are three components or elements in every communicative act, within the different types of organizational communication. These three elements are part of communication; They are key pieces that influence the entire process and allow it to develop. We talk about:
1. People
They are the people who communicate within the company, or who facilitate its communication processes (in external communication, for example). Being a process of human interaction, it is evident that The characteristics of the people will influence the act and the communicative process (in how information is transmitted, what information is selected, how it is received, etc.)
That is, it will be influenced by the person’s mood, personality, relationships with their colleagues (type, frequency…), their rank or hierarchical level within the company, etc.
2. Contents
The contents in every communicative act They have to do with the objectives that the emission of certain messages aims to achieve , as well as with the transmitter and receiver thereof, the communication channels or routes used, etc. All of this will influence, like the previous component, what is obtained with that communicative act and the final result of said process.
3. Environment
Finally, the environment refers to the setting where communication takes place; that is, to the organization itself, but also to its specific spaces (office, cafeteria, elevator…). The environment is a component that also influences and affects communication, influencing the senders and receivers of the messages, and vice versa (that is, people can also influence the environment).
