Types of Business Communication
• Verbal communication
• Verbal communication is defined as communication through words.
• Verbal communication is of two types
– Oral communication
• Communication through spoken words
– Written communication
• Communication through written words
• Non-verbal communication
• Non-verbal communication is defined as communication that does
not use words.
• Examples include;
– Posture, facial expressions, body movements and dressing
– Graphic communication
• Non-verbal communication is widely used to
support verbal communication especially in
meetings and written communication.
• It is regarded as an effective way of
transmitting
message
to
participants
especially in meetings or presentations
however in certain cases, it would be
inappropriate to use certain aspects of nonverbal communication.
Other forms of non-verbal
communication
• Eye contact – can convey interest, gain attention and
influence others.
• Facial expressions – anger, happiness, nervousness,
incompetence and other impressions can be conveyed
through facial expressions
• Body language – important to give the right impression
to others
• Personal appearance – establishes social identity
• Tone and volume of voice – accent, speaking pace and
al the little ums and ahs that creep into speech indicate
a person’s personality, mood and relationship with the
audience.
Visual communication
• Visual communication is sometimes referred
to as the graphics communication and can
include both verbal and non-verbal.
• Example: words can be added to signs to
transmit the same message
Directions of Communication
• Vertical communication
• Communication flows from superiors to subordinates and
subordinates to superiors.
• When communication flows from superiors to
subordinates, it is called top down or vertically downward
communication
• Examples:
– Sales manager to salesperson, CEO to department heads
• When communication flows from subordinates to
superiors, it is called bottom up or vertically upward.
• Examples:
– Salesperson to sales manager, managers to CEO
• Horizontal communication
• Communication flows between departments
of an organization or people of the same rank
or level.
• Example:
– Production department and marketing
department
– Teachers teaching the same grade