The 6 types of organizational communication

A summary of the types of organizational communication, specific to the business world.

Communication processes are an essential part not only in social relations, but also at the organizational level, within the business context. Organizational communication allows messages to be transmitted and received and to maintain group and work cohesion among workers.

That is why more and more companies choose to hire people who are in charge of managing, stimulating and improving communication in the company. There are different types of organizational communicationaccording to some parameters. Let's see what each of them consists of.

Communication inside and outside the company

Organizational communication is that communication that takes place in companies, both through their employees and in relation to the organizational context.. It includes 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 in every company, since through an effective organizational communication, it is possible to create an adequate work environment, as well as to keep all its members informed about relevant issues, necessary to develop the work activity efficiently.

That is why nowadays it is very common to find a professional fully dedicated to develop this field, through the creation of strategies and the implementation of processes and tools that allow facilitating a fluid communication among the company's employees.

At the same time, these communication professionals also work on the image that the company projects outside the company, in society or in the business world (shaping its corporate identity, its "brand").In other words, they are in charge of managing what messages the company sends out and how it sends them (whether through social networks, advertising, etc.).

Types of organizational communication

Depending on the type of communication (specifically, at what level the communication takes place, whether inside or outside the company), there are two types of organizational communication: internal and external. Let's get to know what each of them consists of, as well as their subtypes:

1. Internal communication

A company's internal communication is the one that takes place within the company, among its employees. This It takes place through meetings, communiqués, welcome manuals, brochures, etc., etc.etc. In turn, we find different types of internal organizational communication, according to the classification parameters we use:

1. 1. According to its degree of formality.

According to its character or typology (or degree of formality), internal organizational communication can be of two types: formal and informal.

Formal internal organizational communication is made up of all those messages that are sent and received among the company's employees, through official acts, such as meetings, assemblies, etc. In other words, it is a more "official" type of communication.

It is information that is usually recorded, through the acts of the meetings, for example. This is why it can be called upon when needed.

Informal internal organizational communication is less formal, less official; that is to say, it encompasses situations of interaction between the members of a company, when they are talking and exchanging messages or impressions in their break time, for example.

It is usually oral communication; It is the one that makes it possible to enhance a good working environment..

1.2. According to the directionality of information

Internal communication can also be of three types, if we consider the direction in which information flows: ascending, descending and horizontal. For communication within a company to be effective and productive, these three types must be present: ascending, descending or horizontal.

The first of the types of internal organizational communication according to its directionality is ascending: this consists of communication that is transmitted "from the bottom to the top", i.e., from the bottom to the top, from the workers ("peones") to their department heads, area heads and managers.. In other words, it is the information communicated from the lower ranks to the middle and upper ranks (hierarchical level).

How is this type of communication carried out? Through different channels and tools: meetings, suggestion forms, surveys, interviews, etc.

Top-down internal communication is the one that goes "from top to bottom", i.e. from the bosses or managers downwards.that is to say, from the bosses or managers to their employees. In other words, at the hierarchical level, it is the information transmitted by high-ranking workers to intermediate and lower ranks.

It takes the form of meetings, telephone calls, letters, brochures, reports, speeches, instructions (oral or written), etc.

Finally, the third type of organizational communication, according to its directionality, is horizontal communication. between co-workers who are at the same rank or hierarchical level (e.g. between department heads, area heads, workers, etc.). (for example, between department heads, area heads, workers, etc.).

Like the previous ones, it can take different channels or ways; meetings, informal chats between colleagues, calls, e-mails, etc. This type of communication allows to promote cohesion between workers and teams, improving their work and personal relationship.

2. External communication

The second type of organizational communication, according to the level at which it takes place, is external communication; this encompasses the communicative processes that take place to make the company known to the outside world.

It has more to do with advertising issues, the image projected by the company, social networks, etc. It also makes it possible to know what people outside the company think of the company itself (i.e. what society thinks of the company).

Thus, in addition to advertising, external communication is made up of press releases, press releases, 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 whole process and allow it to develop. We are talking about:

1. People

These are the people who communicate within the company, or who facilitate the company's communication processes (in external communication, for example). Since it is a process of human interaction, it is evident that the characteristics of the people will influence the communicative act and process. (how information is transmitted, what information is selected, how it is received, etc.).

That is to say, the person's state of mind, personality, relationships with colleagues (type, frequency, etc.), rank or hierarchical level within the company, etc., will have an influence.

2. Contents

The contents of any communicative act have to do with the objectives that the emission of certain messages intends to achieve.The contents of any communicative act have to do with the objectives to be achieved by the emission of certain messages, as well as with the issuer and the receiver of the same, the channels or means of communication that are used, etc. All this will influence, as the previous component, in what is obtained with this communicative act and in the final result of this process.

3. Environment

Finally, the environment refers to the scenario where communication takes place, i.e. the organization itself, but also its specific spaces (office, cafeteria, elevator, etc.). The environment is a component that also influences and affects communication, influencing the senders and receivers of messages, and vice versa (i.e. people can also influence the environment).