Business Communication Types
Communication is the process by which information is exchanged. Communication may occur through a variety of channels, including vocal and nonverbal interaction between people, written text, or even visual elements such as sign language. Communication also encompasses the ability to use human language in a way that is understood and received by others.
Verbal Communication
- Verbal communication is the process of exchanging information through the use of spoken words.
- Verbal communication can be one-way or two-way. For example, a teacher may ask students to read aloud from their textbooks, and then proceed to discuss what they’ve read aloud in class. This is an example of one-way verbal communication; teachers do not expect much feedback from students on this type of assignment as they are more focused on teaching content rather than assessing knowledge gained by students through reading assignments.* In contrast, a teacher might ask students to converse about something related to the lesson at hand such as how globalization has impacted their own lives or families’ experiences with it.* This would be considered a two-way verbal exchange because both teachers and students contribute ideas back and forth during these conversations that help clarify concepts for everyone involved.*
- Verbal communication can also vary in formality based upon who is participating in it (elderly people typically prefer formal speech) or where it’s taking place (on campus or off).
Non-Verbal Communication
Non-verbal communication is a powerful tool for communicating. The following table lists the most common types of non-verbal communication:
- Body language: This includes facial expressions and gestures.
- Facial expressions: These include smiling, frowning, raising your eyebrows, looking serious or sad.
- Posture: How you sit or stand can send messages about how you feel about what’s being said in the conversation. For example, if someone is leaning forwards towards you while they are listening to what you have to say then it might mean that they’re interested in what’s being said but if they lean back away from you then it could mean that they don’t agree with what’s being said and are thinking of something else instead.”
Written Communication
Written communication is a form of communication that uses written words to exchange information. It can be used to convey facts, feelings, or ideas. Written communication encompasses a variety of media such as handwritten notes and letters, emails, text messages and instant messaging programs (e.g., Microsoft Office Communicator).
When it comes to business communications:
- Businesspeople often use written documents for formal correspondence such as reports and proposals. They also rely on written messages for less formal purposes such as memos (printed on a company’s letterhead) and quick notes sent via email or text message. These types of messages are usually brief but can still carry important information about what’s happening in your department or company at large!
Visual Communication
Visual communication is the use of visual elements to communicate. It is a form of nonverbal communication and includes the use of:
- Pictures, diagrams, charts and graphs
- Visual aids such as posters or flipcharts (or “flipcharts” for short) that are used in business meetings, training sessions and presentations; it may also include whiteboard drawings and other forms of slide shows. Visual communication can also be seen in print media such as advertisements or educational materials such as textbooks.
Formal Communication
Formal communication is used in business meetings and presentations. It’s a very formal style of writing that uses proper grammar, spelling and punctuation. Formal language tends to be more objective and less subjective than conversational language. You’re likely to use formal language when writing a letter or email, giving a speech or presentation, creating an advertisement or newsletter, publishing research findings in academic journals — basically anywhere you need to make sure that your message is clear and understood by your audience without being overly personal.
Informal Communication
In a business setting, informal communication is often used to build relationships and rapport. It’s also used to build trust and confidence. For example, an employee may casually ask their boss about their weekend plans in order to create a more personal connection with them.
Informal communication is also used for socializing—a manager might take team members out for drinks after work or host a barbecue at their house. These activities help strengthen team bonds and create an environment where employees feel comfortable speaking openly about their opinions on different subjects (business or otherwise).
Intraspecific and Interspecific Communication
Interspecific communication is communication between members of different species. It occurs in two ways:
- intraspecific (within the same species) and
- interspecific (between different species).
Takeaway
Now that you’re familiar with the main types of business communication, it’s time to put your knowledge into practice. The takeaway should be a one-sentence summary of what you learned in this article.
If you struggle to come up with an effective takeaway, try these tips:
- Keep it short and simple
- Use language that is easy to understand
- Make your takeaway something memorable
Communication is an integral part of every company. It’s important to communicate clearly and effectively with your team or clients in order to keep them engaged and happy. If you want to know more about different types of communication and how they work together, check out our blog post on the topic!