How can informal channels of communication be used to improve operational efficiency?

What Is Informal Communication in the Workplace?

Informal communication (sometimes referred to as grapevine communication) is often free-flowing throughout an organization. It is characterized as being:

  • Quick
  • Relational
  • Natural
  • Spontaneous

It usually covers a diverse range of topics and doesn’t leave a paper trail. Informal communication often grows naturally via an organization’s employees and the social relationships that they have.

Unlike formal communication (which is communication within an organization that flows through predefined channels), informal communication doesn’t necessarily follow the hierarchical structure from the top of the organization down.

Types of Informal Communication

  • Single strand – this is where one person talks to another person, who then talks to another person.
  • Gossip chain – the most common informal communication type. This is a group conversation where everybody discusses a topic informally.
  • Probability chain – this is when a message is randomly passed between different people in an organization.
  • Cluster chain – one person shares information on a given topic with select individuals. Those individuals then go on to share the topic with another select group of individuals.

Advantages of Informal Communication

  • Improved productivity – due to its nature, informal communication can improve productivity across an organization as work-related issues are discussed and solved swiftly.
  • Healthy workforce relationships – as the communication is entirely informal, it can help create healthy relationships between teammates and friendships that promote better and more collaborative work.

Examples of Informal Communication in the Workplace

  • Messaging apps have become more prevalent in recent years, and there are many popular apps like Slack and Microsoft teams that allow your employees to communicate naturally.
  • The water cooler – the water cooler has become synonymous with informal communication. Of course, it doesn’t have to be around the water cooler – informal chats can happen anywhere in an office.
  • The dinner table – while this kind of informal communication is often referenced within a family setting, it can also be seen in organizations. At home, a child (employee) can ask a parent (boss) anything they like in an informal setting. This happens in organizations on lunch breaks as well – the hierarchy of formal communication isn’t there, and questions can be asked and answered in an informal setting.

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Informal Communication in the Workplace

Informal communication is casual communication between coworkers in the workplace. It is unofficial in nature and is based in the informal, social relationships that are formed in a workplace outside of the normal hierarchy of business structure. That is why informal business communication can take place between the CEO and an hourly worker. This type of communication is important in the workplace as it can help with employee morale and can encourage the feeling of belonging for the employees as well as a client or customer.

What is the Difference Between Formal and Informal Business Communication?

Formal communication is the sharing of official information about the workplace. It is dictated by the established hierarchical organization of the business. Informal communication does not follow any rules of predetermined policy that formal does and is the opposite of formal communication. Without looking at specifics, the answer to the question, “What is the difference between formal and informal business communication?” is mostly based on whether the communication is defined by the business structure and its set communication rules, and whether the communication is casual or professional.

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Examples of Informal Communication in the Workplace

Good examples of informal communication in the workplace can be seen whenever one employee interacts with another employee in a casual and conversational way. They can talk about the game that was on last night or even about a company policy change.

One of the great informal communication examples is to think of it like a conversation between a family at a dinner table. Any child can turn to the mom or dad of the family (or the boss of the company) and casually ask them questions about something they brought up in a family meeting. It’s a calm and carefree scenario to discuss things.

In the following sections, we will discuss the different types of informal communication in the workplace and examine some advantages and disadvantages of such communication.

Types of Informal Communication

There are four different types of informal communication:

  1. Single Strand: One person communicates with one person and then they go and communicate with another one person. Communication is traveling from one person to another one person.

  2. Gossip Chain: Group conversation where everyone is talking to each other informally.

  3. Probability Chain: Each individual randomly tells another individual the same message.

  4. Cluster Chain: One person shares information with a group of selected individuals and in turn each of those individuals shares that information with others.

All of these different types of informal communication are all about how information flows between employees outside of a professional and formal meeting scenario.

Informal Communication Advantages and Disadvantages

Informal communication is casual and carefree while formal communication can seem cold and distant. Both these types of communication are important for the workplace, but informal communication is beneficial because it can bridge gaps between departments and create a sense of belonging. Informal communication is friendly and inviting and is a great sign that someone has a friend in the company.

Informal communication is an advantage to business because if employees have friends to communicate with they will enjoy their job more, which can increase productivity. A disadvantage to informal communication is just that, it’s informal. Unofficial or unconfirmed information can be spread to employees, leading to mass disinformation. A great benefit to informal communication is that employees have someone to go to when they don’t understand an aspect of the business. It is a great way for employees to feel connected and to keep abreast with how the business works.

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How does informal communication increase efficiency?

Informal communication is friendly and inviting and is a great sign that someone has a friend in the company. Informal communication is an advantage to business because if employees have friends to communicate with they will enjoy their job more, which can increase productivity.

What are the advantages of informal channels of communication?

Informal Communication: Meaning, Characteristics, Advantages and Limitations.
(1) Formation through Social Relations: ... .
(3) Uncertain Path: ... .
(5) Quick Relay: ... .
(1) Fast and Effective Communication: ... .
(3) Better Human Relations: ... .
Limitations..

What are the uses of informal communication?

The purpose of informal communications is to share information in a casual way. It may be to advise your family about your health, to tell a joke, or to share the company of co-workers or friends. Informal communication is relaxing and reduces stress. There is often laughter.

What is informal channels of communication?

Informal channel of communication is an unofficial and unstructured channel which is not prescribed by the organization but exists due to personal and social needs of people working in an organization. Information that passes through informal means is not official but may be merely rumors or gossips.