WORKPLACE
COMMUNICATION MEDIA,
POLITICS AND POWER
Professional Year Program - Unit 5: Workplace media and communication
channels
Purpose
The purpose of this session is to highlight the importance
of using the right communication channel/media when
communicating in the workplace.
We will begin by revisiting the communication process,
then we will consider the various communication
channels and their differences, look at communication
networks in organisations and identify common barriers
to effective communication. The session will conclude
with exploring the impact of power and politics in the
workplace.
Overview
In this session we will cover the following:
The communication process
Communication media/channels
Information richness and choice of media/channel
Communication networks
Common barriers to effective communication
Power and politics in the workplace
The Communication Process
http://agilevietnam.com/tag/skills-2/
Encoding – Verbal & Nonverbal
• Verbal Communication
• The encoding of messages into words, either
written or spoken
• Nonverbal
• The encoding of messages by means of facial
expressions, body language, and styles of dress.
Communication Channels
What are the different communication channels that
exist in the workplace?
Communication Channels
What are the communication channels that exist in
the workplace? Can you think of others?
Face to face
Letters
Reports
Meetings
Telephone
Emails
Videoconferencing
Blogs/Forums
Information Richness
Different communication channels have different
levels of information richness.
It is important to select the communication channel
that will provide the level of information richness you
need to effectively communicate your message.
Information Richness
Information Richness
Communication Media
Face-to-Face
 Has highest
information richness.
 Can take advantage
of verbal and
nonverbal signals
Communication Media
Spoken Communication Electronically
Transmitted
• Has the second highest information richness.
• Telephone conversations are information rich
with tone of voice, sender’s emphasis, and
quick feedback, but provide no visual
nonverbal cues.
Communication Media
Personally Addressed Written Communication
• Has a lower richness than the verbal forms of
communication, but still is directed at a given
person.
• Personal addressing helps ensure receiver
actually reads the message—personal letters
and e-mail are common forms.
Communication Media
Personally Addressed Written Communication
• Has a lower richness than the verbal forms of
communication, but still is directed at a given
person.
• Personal addressing helps ensure receiver
actually reads the message—personal letters
and e-mail are common forms.
Communication Media
Impersonal Written Communication
• Has the lowest information richness.
• Good for messages to many receivers where
little or feedback is expected (e.g.,
newsletters, reports)
Communication Media – Tips for choosing
written or verbal
Communication Networks
Communication networks consider how
information flows between people, teams and
within an organisation.
They can be descried as the pathways which
information flows in groups and teams and
throughout the organisation.
Communication Networks – Groups
Communication Networks - Organisation
Organisation Chart
• Summarises the formal reporting channels in
an organisation.
• Communication in an organization flows
through formal and informal pathways
• Vertical communications flow up and down the
corporate hierarchy.
Communication Networks - Organisation
Organisation Chart
• Horizontal communications flow between
employees of the same level.
• Informal communications can span levels and
departments—the grapevine is an informal
network carrying unofficial information
throughout the firm.
Communication Networks - Organisations
Formal and Informal Communication
Networks in an Organisation
(see next slide)
Common Barriers to Effective
Communication
• Messages that are unclear, incomplete, difficult to
understand
• Messages sent over the an inappropriate medium
• Messages with no provision for feedback
• Messages that are received but ignored
• Messages that are misunderstood
• Messages delivered through automated systems
that lack the human element
Power and Politics in the Workplace
Power and politics are part of any
group or organisation to varying
degrees.
An awareness of these factors is
critical in successfully navigating a
organisation and communicating
effectively.
Power and Politics in the Workplace
Power
• What is power in the workplace?
• The capacity someone has to influence the
behaviour of another
•
What are some examples of power in the
workplace?
•
Is power good or bad?
Power and Politics in the Workplace
Power
 Types of Power
 Formal
 Personal

Formal Power


Positional Power
Personal Power

I like you….
Power and Politics in the Workplace
Politics
• What is politics in the workplace?
–Activities that are not part of a persons formal job,
•
but that influence the distribution of advantages
What are some examples of politics in the
workplace?
•
Are politics good or bad?
Power and Politics in the Workplace
Politics
Watch the following video on office politics
Identify two ways you can respond positively to
office politics
Watch Video – Office Politics
Power and Politics in the Workplace
Power and Politics in the Workplace
Debrief : Video – Office Politics
Identify two ways you can respond positively to
office politics