Woman putting two puzzle pieces together

Top forms of effective business communication

Learn the different types of business communication and how to engage more effectively

Slack 팀이 작성2021년 10월 4일

You probably already know that effective business communication is essential for a healthy workplace. But with so many communication strategies available, deciding which ones to use in various scenarios is not always easy. Yet getting it right remains extremely important, as strong workplace communication impacts everything from productivity to employee retention.

There are four main types of business communication, each with its own pros and cons. Here’s how you can make the most of them.

Upward communication

This is about communicating up the chain, from an employee to a manager or a manager to a CEO. Upward communication gives decision makers at the top a better understanding of what’s actually happening throughout the company. Encouraging and soliciting upward communication also allows employees to feel heard and validated, boosting their morale and, ultimately, their loyalty.

But upward communication has some limitations. Employees might be reluctant to share their thoughts if they think there will be negative consequences or that no one is really listening anyway. Even when employees are forthcoming, managers always need to ensure they’re getting the full story.

You can dramatically improve the effectiveness of upward communication by developing an open and supportive environment. Offer multiple communication channels, make it a habit to chat with your employees and proactively solicit feedback.

Hand writing a to-do list

Downward

Downward communication flows from the top down, such as from a CEO to a manager or from managers to their team members. It’s crucial for presenting key information, building an atmosphere of transparency and ensuring everyone’s on the same page.

But, if not done right, it can become a giant game of telephone. As information flows through the hierarchy, important details can be lost or distorted. Using downward communication too often can make employees feel like they’re being lectured or are unimportant in the overall organization chart.

For more effective downward communication, be approachable. Personalize your communications when possible and solicit feedback. Remember that a healthy mix of downward and upward communication is essential to a strong workplace.

Horizontal

Horizontal communication happens between people at the same level in the corporate structure. It’s often cross-departmental, like when a marketing manager meets with a finance manager or the coding team collaborates with the design team.

Whether it takes place interdepartmentally or within the same workgroup, horizontal communication is what makes teams function. It tends to be highly organic and rapidly evolves with little or no management input. It can help build a sense of belonging and allow the best ideas to surface.

But horizontal communication is not without its pitfalls. It can also lead to territorialism, squabbles and an “us versus them” mentality. To ward that off, be careful not to pit teams against each other. Instead, foster an atmosphere of collaboration, where each team is equally valued for its contributions. Encourage groups to meet in person or through video chat to work through any misunderstandings. Then follow up with a written summary of what was discussed and the decisions that were made.

External

External communications involve someone within the organization and someone outside it, such as a customer, vendor or media member. External communication is your opportunity to build your brand and get your message out to the public.

But of course, external communication comes with risk. Sending the wrong message can reflect poorly on your company, leading to lost opportunities (and revenue). Conflicting messages, incorrect data or even a failure to understand the target audience can leave a bad impression that’s difficult to overcome.

To make the most of your external communication, carefully and strategically curate everything you put out into the world. Whether you’re writing a quick vendor email or corporate press release, take the time to get to know your audience and choose a message that will resonate. Be direct and to the point, and always let the audience know what’s in it for them and why it’s important right now.

How Slack helps with all communication types

Getting everyone in an organization moving in the same direction is no easy feat. That’s why Slack offers a single, scalable platform with practically endless options for customization. You can set up different channels for different types of communication and give each person access to the channels they need. Whether you need a space for horizontal teams to collaborate or want to make sure everyone reads the annual CEO update, Slack offers flexible tools to keep your communications running smoothly.

이 포스트가 유용했나요?

0/600

훌륭해요!

피드백을 주셔서 감사합니다.

알겠습니다!

피드백을 주셔서 감사합니다.

죄송합니다. 문제가 발생했습니다. 나중에 다시 시도해주세요.

계속 읽기

생산성

미래의 업무가 이루어지는 곳, Slack Tour Seoul 2024

누구나 자기가 속한 조직에서 행복하게 일할 수 있어야 합니다. Slack Tour Korea 2024는 고객이 Slack을 통해 만들어 가는 행복한 일터의 현재와 미래를 엿볼 수 있는 시간이었습니다.

혁신

고객 지원을 위한 Slack: Slack 커뮤니티 뉴욕시의 전문가 팁

Slack 전문가들로부터 고객 지원을 위해 Slack을 최대한 활용하는 방법에 대해 들어보세요.

새 소식

데이터와 대화가 만나는 곳, Salesforce 채널

Slack에 고객 중심의 대화와 Salesforce CRM 데이터를 함께 모아 업무를 진행하세요.

협업

소기업에 커다란 영향을! 오직 여러분을 위해 제작된 커뮤니티에 가입하세요