MORE ON BUSINESS

COMMUNICATION
CONTENTS

• Types of Business Communication

• Verbal/ Non-verbal
• Internal/ External
• Formal/Informal
• Lines of Internal communication
• UpwardCommunication
• Downward Communication
• Lateral Communication
• The Future of Business Communication
TYPES OF BUSINESS COMMUNICATION

Expressio
Direction Formality
n
Verbal Internal Formal

Non-verbal External Informal

Verbal vs Non-verbal Communication
 VERBAL & NON-VERBAL BUSINESS
COMMUNICATION

• Verbal communication is any communication that is used through language; it

could be oral or written.
• Oral communication may include personal face-to-face intercations, presentations,
speeches, telephone conversations, video-conferences.
• Written communication includes memos, reports, letters, emails, proposals, news
releases, minutes,…
 VERBAL & NON-VERBAL BUSINESS
COMMUNICATION

• Non-verbal communication refers to all types of

communication in which language is not the mediator of
meaning.
 Haptics
Proxemics

Chronemics

Paralanguage

Non Verbal Forms of

Communication

Kinesics
Chromatics

Olfactics
Occulesics
Non-verbal Communication Instances

Proxemics Closeness and personal space

Kinesics Postures, body movement & gestures

Chronemics Culture-specific understanding of time

Chromatics Culture-specific understanding of colors

Paralanguage Tone, Rhythm, Pitch

Haptics Touch, body contact

Olfactics Odours & Scents

Occulesics Eye movement & contact

Internal vs External Business Communication
 INTERNAL COMMUNICATION

• Internal communication happens within the same organization. It ensures

company’s overall efficiency and effectiveness.
• It is necessary for the execution of day-to-day activities.
• It helps employees make the best decisions and find the most efficient solutions to
problems.
 EXTERNAL COMMUNICATION

• External communication happens with others outside the company

such as vendors and customers.
• Good external business communication ensures higher sales’ volumes,
more benefits, positive corporate image, more credibility.
Formal vs Informal communication
 FORMAL BUSINESS COMMUNICATION

• Formal communication is an official channel that is well- defined and well-

structured with the intention to achieve organizational goals.
• It is usually controlled by those who lie on top of the hierarchy.
• Information that flows formally is generally accurate and legally valid.
• Formal communication can be done through reports, emails, memos, news
releases, or oral presentations.
 INFORMAL COMMUNICATION

• Informal communication is also called grapevine communication. It is all the

opposite of formal communication.
• Informal channels of communication are unofficical and unstructured. It may be
merely based on rumors and gossip.
• Grapevine is created and controlled by those lower in the hierarchy and follows no
rules or regulations.
• It may exist due to the personal needs of the people working in a company.
 Formal Informal

Origin Top management Lower levels of the hierarchy

Legal Official channel Unofficial channel

Nature Structured Unstructured

Authority & accuracy Thrustworthy & true Unstrustworthy & may be fabricated

Purpose Organization goals Personal needs

Time Slow Fast

Channel Written and Oral Basically Oral

Lines of Internal Business Communication
 DOWNWARD COMMUNICATION
•  Internal downward communication flows from a superior to one or
more subordinates. This type of communication might be in the form of a
letter, a memo or a verbal directive.

Superiors

Downward
Communication

Subordinates
 UPWARD COMMUNICATION
• Upward business communication is communication that comes from a subordinate to a
manager or an individual up the organizational hierarchy. Every leader should enable information
to flow upwards in order to have a true understanding of the company’s operations.

Superiors

UpWard Communication

Subordinates
 LATERAL COMMUNICATION
•  Internal lateral business communication happens among employees in the workplace.
Today, there are many different ways employees can communicate: chats, messaging, email,
employees communication software solutions. 
• This type of communication can be within or among departments and it happens more regularly
than other types of business communication.

Human Resources
Production Manager manager Marketing Manager

Lateral Communication
THE FUTURE OF BUSINESS COMMUNICATION

• Business communication has benefitted from the technological

innovations in the field of telecommunication.
• To get a better understanding of what business communication
may look like in the near future, check out the short video
after the presentation.