Characteristics of Communication. Communication is lifeblood of a business organization. No organization can succeed or progress, build up reputation, and win friends and customers without effective communication skills.
Communication is considered effective when it brings the desired response from the receiver to the sender. Good communication results in saving time, reducing mistakes and promoting the objectives of any organization. On the contrary, poor communication defeats these objectives. Below are some of the important aspects of good communication.
12 Characteristics of Communication
- Smooth Working of a Business Firm:
Effective communication is necessary for the successful and smooth working of a business firm. A manager properly links up various elements to achieve his targets.
- Helps in Management:
Effective communication helps in planning different programmes and controlling the activities of individuals and departments.
- Always Quick Decision:
Quick decision making and its implementation depend upon the powerful phenomenon of effective communication.
- Maximum Production at Minimum Cost:
Every organization wants to get maximum output at the minimum cost. It requires an effective internal communication system.
- Building Human Relation:
Communication is a two-way traffic which helps to promote cooperation and natural understanding between the partners of an organization. Thus it helps in building good human relations.
- Lifeblood of an Organization:
Communication is the lifeblood of an organization. Without communication, an organization is lifeless and its existence is in danger.
- External Parties and Effective Communication:
Communication is essential not only for the internal management of the organization but it also helps contact with the outside world. Such contacts increase the goodwill of the firm. External parties can be attracted by effective business communication.
Flow of Communication
Business communication is a process of exchanging information lor the purpose of conducting, expanding and promoting business. The best way to study the importance of communication is to observe the directions in which it flows within or outside an organization.
Internal Communication:
An exchange of information within an organization is called internal communication. There are two patterns of internal communication. These are:
- Formal Communication Channels
- Informal <ommunication Channels
- Formal Communication Channels:
Within the formal communication channels the information may travel downward, upward and horizontal.
- Downward Communication:
When a manager passes information to a subordinate, communication is flowing downward. The message may be conveyed orally to a group through a meeting, workshop or a written memo etc.
- Upward Communication:
Upward communication is as important as downward communication. Since an executive cannot be everywhere at once, he depends on lower level employees to give him timely reports.
- Horizontal Communication:
In addition to transmitting messages up and down the organization, the formal communication network also carries messages horizontally from one department to another.
| Formal Communication Network | ||||
| Upward Communication | ||||
| Horizontal | ||||
| Communication | ||||
| Downward Communication | ||||
- Informal Communication Channels:
Every organization has one informal communication network. This is known as ‘the grapevine’. As people go about their work, they have casual conversations with their friends in the office. They joke and discuss many things like sports, movies, their families etc. Although many of these conversations deal with personal matters, business is often discussed as well.