Direct and Indirect

Communication
Damilola Olorunshola, Shannon Goneso and Thaís Horn
Summary
• Direct Communication

• Indirect Communication

• Negative Feedback
Direct
Communication
• The overall goal of this form of
communication is getting or
giving information
• Common in low-context cultures
• Speaker is responsible for clear
communication
View from within
● Directness is often viewed as logical and
aligned with power whereas indirectness is
akin to dishonesty and reflects subservience”
(Tannen, p. 85)
● Indirect speakers are seen as passive
aggressive, manipulative, “weak, deceptive
and vague” (Griffith), “insincere and
untrustworthy” (Ting-Toomey, p. 104)

4
Views from
without
● Direct communicators may be perceived as
inappropriate and rude, which can lead to
interpersonal tension, damaged reputations,
perceptions of poor performance, and other
problems.

5
POSITIVE FEEDBACK
● one person recognizes and appreciates another person's
accomplishments
● Some cultures use the ”three positives for a negative“ approach
(Meyer, 2014)
Tips for more direct speakers
● Avoid blunt comments
● Pay attention to nonverbal behaviors
● Avoid phrasing a question so that the answer may be perceived as insulting to
someone (for example, may be seen as criticizing someone)
 Indirect Communication

Don’t be deceived, I may not mean what I say

Body Language Gestures

Signs Tone
 Indirect Communication
● Involves the use of signs,
gestures, tones etc. ● Could lead to
miscommunication

● Contextual Passive aggressive, manipulative,

“weak, deceptive and vague” ● Intended to avoid
● High contexts (Griffith), “insincere and
conflicts/Intercultural
untrustworthy” (Ting-Toomey)
miscommunications
● Complex

● Long term relationships ● Subtle

A
B
C
The bright side
• Better listener

• Attention to details

• Sustainable relationship

• Perceptiveness

Communication takes effort.

Try to understand the
message, and not what you
want to hear.
 “Speaking frankly: a gift or a slap in the
face?”

Negative Downgrades x upgrades

Feedback
Direct and indirect negative feedback

“What does it mean to be polite?”

Direct Direct comm. + Direct neg. Can be considered rude and
Netherlands,
offensive, but the messages are very
feedback easy to decode
Germany

Direct comm. + Indirect neg. Speak between the lines, but negative
feedbacks are sharp and direct.
France

feedback Consider hierarchy.

Mixed

Indirect comm. + Direct Soften criticism with positive Brazil, México,

Kenya and
messages, can be confusing.
neg. feedback China

Indirect comm. + Indirect Soft, subtle and indirect. Public

Indirect

criticism is never accepted. US, UK

neg. feedback
Thank you!