i. Downward: Here, communication flows from a higher level in an organization to a lower level in an organization (i.e. from seniors to subordinates). It is used by managers to transmit work-related information to the employee at lower levels. Managers use downward communication to:
• Provide feedback on employees performance
• Give job instruction
• Communicate the organization's mission and vision to the employees
• Highlight areas that need more attention
• Explain employees’ duties and relation to the organization’s goals.
Examples include organizational publications, circulars, letters to employees, group meetings.
ii. Upward: This refers to the communication that flows to a higher level in the organization. (i.e. from subordinates to superiors). Subordinates use upward communication to:
• Convey their problems and performances to their superiors
• Tell how well they have understood the downward communication
• Share their views and ideas to participate in decision making
Examples include Grievance redress system, complaint and suggestion box, job satisfaction survey, performance reports made by low level management for review by higher level managers, employees attitude surveys.
iii. Lateral/Horizontal communication: This refers to the type of communication that takes place at the same level of hierarchy in an organization (i.e. communication between peers or managers in the level). Its main benefits include:
• Saves time and enables sharing of information.
• Facilitates coordination of the task and co-operation amongst team member.
• Provides social and emotional assistance to the organizational members.
• Helps in solving various organizational problems
• Can be used to resolve conflicts between /within departments
iv. Diagonal communication: This refers to communication that crosses both levels and functions or departments where staff members from different departments interact with one another within the organization, irrespective of their reporting relationship (i.e. it is not affected by any lines of authority). For example, junior staff from finance department can interact with a senior staff from the operations department. Advantages include:
• May speed up the flow of information
• Can help create a healthy environment and relationship.
• Can help build better coordination amongst staff members.
• Can help in solving problems easily as different ideas are brought together.
• Not easy to distort information as individuals are in direct contact with one another.
v. External communication: This refers to communication that takes place between managers and external groups, such as vendors, banks, customers, suppliers, etc. Advantages of external communication include:
• Used to communicate new information & news relates to an organization’s customers, shareholders, suppliers or other stakeholders.
• Can be used to build an organization’s image & workplace culture to its customers and other stakeholders through different mediums (e.g. newsletters, press release, etc.).
• Used to create awareness of a company’s products or services to its audience /customers