Informal Communication

What are the types of Informal Communication?

There are four major types of informal communication:

1. Single Strand Chain.
2. Gossip Chain.
3. Probability Chain.
4. Cluster Chain.

What are the benefits of Informal Communication?

• It gives a more personal touch to the way people converse, making it more inclined towards building a social relationship.
• The flow of information through informal communication in the organization is faster and less retrained.
• Grievances can be addressed more openly through this type of communication.
• Expressing their thoughts without fear, employees may come up with more ideas, suggestions and opinions.
• It creates a friendly work environment.
• It destroys the rigid hierarchical structures that run-in organizations enabling even the most junior person to interact with the highest officials.

What are the key features of Informal Communication?

• It is clearly not professional in nature.
• It can take the form of gossip.
• There is no set structure or channel for it.
• It spreads quickly through the organization.
• It is direct.
• It is flexible and dynamic in nature.

What are the disadvantages of Informal Communication?

• There is no methodology in place to track the information that flows through when relying on information mode of communication.
• It is driven by emotions and sentiments which makes it less professional.
• It can be unreliable at times facilitating the spread of rumors or misinformation.
• No one can be held responsible since there is no proof of where communication first originated.

How is informal communication conveyed?

Informal communication is conveyed in a multitude of ways with the help of the following:

• Personal conversation.
• Gossip.
• Eye contact.
• Unofficial discussion.
• Spontaneous suggestions.
• Facial expression.
• Body language and movement.
• Silence.