Communication is called the most diverse forms of information transfer. As for the business environment, it is customary to single out vertical and horizontal communications. Each of them differs in its features, characteristic features of the interaction of participants. This article will be discussed in more detail. We highlight the main differences between these types of communication.
What is it?
First, consider a key concept. So, communication is the process of transmitting information used by people. It can appear in several forms:
- Explicit. This is the use of spoken language, text or some kind of graphic images, visuals and so on.
- Implicit. Communication using non-verbal gestures, facial expressions, certain facial expressions.
As for the main means of business communication, they are the following:
- Meeting.
- Videoconference.
- Email.
- Telephone conversations.
- Transferring memos.
- Personal conversation.
- The use of Internet technologies (chats, instant messengers).
- Submission of reports.
It is customary to highlight the following communication elements:
- Senders. These are persons who form, encode data and transmit it to other participants in the process.
- Messages Certain sender-encoded information.
- Channels Here, communications are highlighted, environments in which information can be disseminated.
- Recipient. The person to whom the transmitted information was sent. An element that interprets information.
Internal and external groups
Vertical and horizontal communications in an organization are inherently subcategories.
Business communications are generally divided into external and internal. The latter are represented by the communication that takes place directly within the organization, in particular, between individual employees, departments, shops, company divisions. External communication is communication with third parties. They can be counterparties, suppliers, customers, service organizations, government representatives, etc.
In turn, internal communications in the organization are represented by horizontal and vertical, as well as communication networks. Vertical are further divided into two categories:
- Reverse (bottom-up principle).
- Hierarchical (top-down principle).
The features of these presented varieties will be discussed in detail in the article.
Horizontal communication
What is meant? Horizontal communication is the exchange of official, business information between employees occupying the same, equal position in the company. Here, communication may be relevant both between workers of the same workshop, unit, branch, and between employees of equivalent departments of workshops and branches.
Horizontal communication is also communication between managers who have the same scope of competencies, as well as between employees who have the same rank, are in equal positions, have an equal set of powers and responsibilities.
Horizontal communication in the organization is necessary primarily to create a healthy, friendly, comfortable working atmosphere. This is an organization of full, fruitful business communication. A properly organized system of horizontal communications allows achieving positive results based on the results of the work of each team member.
Possible problems
This kind of business communication can be overshadowed by certain problems. Here are the main ones characteristic of horizontal communications in management:
- Using professional jargon. It may not be understood by newly hired employees, employees of another department.
- Disputes over the importance of their particular site, their particular type of activity.
- Decrease in business communication to household, discussion of personal problems. The emergence on this basis of rumors, conversations behind the back, discussions that distract from the labor process.
- The effectiveness of business communication can be reduced due to the appearance of sympathy, personal hostility, etc.
Solution of problems
To protect internal horizontal communications in the company from such problems, the manager should take the following steps:
- Ask subordinates, colleagues to communicate in a language that everyone understands, and to decode professional terms.
- Regulate communication between their subordinates, neutralize disputes and misunderstandings between them.
- Hold general meetings, including informal meetings, so that employees can establish communication among themselves.
Vertical type
Horizontal communications are communications between employees of the same organization, business communication between workers of the same department, and workshops holding equal positions. Vertical communication in a business environment is the transfer of information between management and subordinates. It includes the following forms:
- Orders.
- Recommendations
- Orders.
This is sent from the boss to the employees subordinate to him. Workers send reports, messages, reports and so on in response to the head.
Vertical communication is divided into two varieties:
- Between departments, divisions, workshops located at various hierarchical levels in the company.
- Directly between subordinates and the leading corps.
Information transfer here is available in two forms - in a descending line (hierarchical) and in ascending (reverse). Imagine them specifically.
Top-down group
Here the information will come from the highest levels of the hierarchy to the lower. That is, from the boss to his subordinates. Within this group, the following forms of business communication can be distinguished:
- Orders and orders. They may be accompanied by explanations regarding the achievement of goals, the implementation of tasks, the application of certain techniques and techniques.
- Documents assessing the efforts of subordinates.
- Support and control.
- Stimulating the work of employees.
Hierarchical Subtype Issues
The problems of top-down type business communication (communication between a manager and his subordinates) include the following:
- Misunderstanding. A situation may arise that bosses and executives speak different languages - both literally and figuratively. Even if the communication language is unambiguously chosen Russian, then a different level of professional training will still leave room for misunderstanding. For example, if the boss abuses professional, technical vocabulary in communication with low-skilled personnel. Another example: the head of an international company can not always find a common language with employees who are representatives of a different national culture. They, even knowing a foreign language, may not understand the features of speech of its carrier - the same abbreviations, professional jargon, pun.
- Amount of information. Managers do not always send the necessary information in the proper amount. In some situations, the task assigned to a subordinate is difficult to complete due to a lack of necessary information. And in other cases, the contractor suffers from the need to study redundant, useless, irrelevant information.
Bottom-up group
This is information that is sent from subordinates to the head. The following forms stand out here:
- Office notes.
- Reports.
- Messages on the stages of the work done.
- Reports on the occurrence of unforeseen problems in the course of solving a service task.
- Offers with innovative ideas, ways to improve production, introduce new technologies and methods of activity in the company.
Such feedback is no less important for managers than giving orders themselves. It is from subordinates that you can get the latest information on the state of affairs in the company. This information allows us to assess the collective mood, to determine the root of the growing discontent of employees.
Reverse Subtype Problems
Feedback between performers and management may be overshadowed by the following issues:
- Subordinates rarely send negative reviews, complaints to their management even about those aspects that are quite serious. The reason is simple - the fear of dismissal.
- Often, even comments sent by employees, suggestions remain unanswered. The reason is either the manager’s excessive employment, or his lack of respect for his own employees. He considers it not important to parse their messages. Workers in response to this have the conviction that such feedback is useless.
- Sent criticism may not reach its final destination at all. For example, in the case when an employee sends a letter to the Director General with a complaint to his direct management. The lower boss may prevent such feedback, as it will result in negative consequences for him.
- For clarification of unclear topics, help in solving suddenly arising problems, in most cases, employees prefer to contact colleagues, rather than managers. The reason may be that they do not hope to receive full, qualified assistance, they are afraid that they will be accused of incompetence.
- Often the presence of a territorial, geographical reason for the impossibility of such a connection. Offices where subordinates and superiors are located can be located in different areas of a settlement, or even in different cities, states.
Ways to solve problems
All of the above problems can be solved as follows:
- Identify anonymous email and mailboxes where employees can send incognito complaints and suggestions.
- Develop a reward system for employees using feedback from management.
- To create communication schemes between a simple worker and a high-ranking boss without intermediate barriers in the form of direct management of the employee.
- Introduce registration of all requests received by managers from subordinates with the need to report on measures taken in response.