HORIZONTAL OR LATERAL

COMMUNICATION
• It refers to the transmission of information among the
persons of the samelevel & status.
• It generally takes place among departmental heads who are
responsible for different functional areas of the business.
• It is also known as LATERAL OR SIDEWARD
COMMUNICATION..
• It is essential for achieving coordination in the enterprise.
The methods used in horizontal communication can take the
form of memoranda, letters & the personal face to face
contacts.
• The objective of lateral communication are as
under:
• To coordinate among various individuals or departments.
• To solve problems which involve the efforts of various
specialists.
• To resolve conflicts among various employees of the
department.
• To exchange information among various employees of the
department.
• To promote social relations among employees in the
organization.
 DIAGONAL
COMMUNICATION
• Diagonal communication is said to take place when a
supervisor in one dept. communicates directly with a
manager who is not only in a different dept. but also at a
higher level in the organization.
• It cut across different function s& levels in an organization.
• It helps in increasing the efficiency of organizational
activities.
• Best use of diagonal communication can be made by ensuring
that cross relationship are cordial in nature.
• Subordinates should keep their line superiors informed of
their interactions with people of other depts.
 BARRIERS TO
COMMUNICATION
• The term barrier means ‘hurdle’, ‘hindrance’ or ‘obstacle.
• Barrier to communication imply hurdles or obstacles on the
way of transmission of message from the sender to the
receiver.
• Barrier refers to something non physical that keeps apart
or prevents activity, movement & so on.
• TYPES OF BARRIERS:
• Physical & mechanical barriers
• Language or Semantic barriers
• Socio-psychological barriers
• Organisational barriers
• Personal barriers
 PHYSICAL & MECHANICAL
BARRIERS
NOISE
• It is the disruption or interference in communication
process anywhere along the way.
• Noise though of varying degree, disturbs or interferes with
communication.
• Whatever that distracts the receiver’s attention causes
communication breakdown.
• Noise can be physical & psychological.
• Physical distractions or disturbances such as loud speakers,
gossip etc., draw the attention of the receiver.
• Psychological noise is related to mental disturbences like
ego clash, pre occupied yhoughts, hang over, anxiety.
 DISTANCE
• Long distances between the sender & the receivers can also
obstruct effective communication

TIME
• Time refers to the reaching of message. If an important message
reaches late it is sure to affect communication.

INFORMATION OVERLOAD
• It refers to excessive transmission of information. Much more
information than what the receiver can process is transmitted to
him/her. The receiver can’t understand , digest, analyze & act upon
information overload that is beyond mental capacity.
 MECHANICAL BARRIERS
• Outdated machines & equipment may produce excessive
noise leading to physical barriers in communication.
• Distraction like background noise, poor lighting., affect the
morale of the employees & also obstruct effective
communication.
 SEMANTIC OR LANGUAGE BARRIER
UNCLEAR MESSAGE
• Lack of clarity in message makes it badly expressed. poorly chosen & empty
word , phrases, inadequate vocabulary, failure to clarify implications etc.,
are some common faults found.

FAULTY TRANSLATION
• The message that every manager receives from his superiors, peers,
subordinates must be translated into language suitable for the respective
person( for whom the information is destined).

SPECIALIST’S LANGUAGE
• It is often found that technical personnel & special groups tend to develop
a special, peculiar & technical language of their own. It hinders their
communication with persons not in their speciality, because of the
receiver’s ignorance of that type of language.
 SOCIO-PSYCHOLOGICAL
BARRIERS
• DIFFERENCES IN PERCEPTION- perceptual barriers may arise due to
differences between individuals in the way they perceive, organize &
understand their environment.

• DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDE-people differ with regard to attitudes &

opinions which often interfere with communication. If the message is
consistent with our attitudes & opinions we receive it favourably.

• INATTENTION- communication has no impact on those who are unable or

unwilling to listen. If people do not pay the required degree of attention to
listening & understanding the messages they are supposed to receive.

• PREMATURE EVALUATION- some people form a judgment

before receiving the complete message. Such premature evaluation
prevents effective communication.
• RESISTANCE TO CHANGE-when new ideas are being
communicated, the listening apparatus may act as a filter in
rejecting new ideas. Thus resistance to change is an
important obstacle to effective communication.

• CULTURAL DIFFERENCE- cultural refers to values, beliefs,

norms, attitudes & perceptions of people of different
nations or regions. Symbols, words , colors, gestures,
language must be carefully selected when senders of
information are dealing with people of different nations &
regions.
 ORGANISATIONAL
BARRIERS
• STATUS RELATIONSHIP

• ONE WAY FLOW

• ORGANISATION STRUCTURE

• RULES & REGULATIONS

 PERSONAL BARRIERS
• ATTITUDE OF SUPERIOR- the attitude of superiors
towards communication affect the flow of messages in
different directions.

• LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN SUBORDINATES

• LACK OF TIME

• MESSAGE OVERLOAD