Horizontal communication is important practice used in new business and large companies to improve and sharing of information between employees.
Horizontal communication :- Considering the amount of time employees spend during meetings, giving presentations. The effective communication in the work place plays an essential role in the growth of a company.
So, as your company grows, you will need to accustom your communication practices accordingly.
In this article, we explain what horizontal communication is benefits of using this practice, other types of communication used in business and what kind of tools to use for improving communication in a work environment.
What is Horizontal Communication?
Horizontal communication refers to the sharing of information between employees at different levels of the organization’s hierarchy. This type of organizational communication is also known as Lateral Communications because it allows for information to flow laterally between departments.
Horizontal communication allows information to be transmitted across organizational levels, rather than being sent from one level to another. This practice promotes cooperation and coordination among employees of similar ranks, positions, or status within the company. This method helps organizations improve their skills such as problem solving and teamwork through streamlining information flow among employees at the same hierarchical level.
Horizontal Communication: Information Flow
Horizontal communication is the co-ordination of information. It allows people in the same position across departments to exchange messages and knowledge.
Horizontal communication allows employees of different departments to work together in a collaborative environment that facilitates the smooth operation of the business as well as quick problem solving.
Advantages
The many benefits of horizontal communication make it a popular trend in business today.
- Coordinates Activities
- Improves problem-solving skills
- reduces misunderstandings
- encourages teamwork
- improves job satisfaction
- empowers employees
Disadvantages
There are some drawbacks to horizontal communication you need to consider before you implement it in your workplace. This method:
- difficult to control
- can be slow
- create conflict between employees
- can create an absence of discipline
Different Types Of Communications
Communication is an integral part of our daily lives. Let’s talk about the types and how they work. There are mainly three types of communication: horizontal communication, vertical communication and diagonal communication.
Horizontal Communication: Vertical communication is also known as lateral communication. It is the sharing of information within a team or department between people at the same level.
Vertical Communication: Vertical communications is the opposite of horizontal communication. It’s the sharing of information among members of an organisation who are at different levels of hierarchy.
Diagonal communication: Employees at different levels and organizational units communicate through diagonal communication. It technique used when a company has an informal structure.
You can help workers work together and make ensure that they communicate clearly at the same hierarchy level. This will improve their problem-solving and teamwork skills. Horizontal communication fosters a sense of community in professional and personal lives. This article will discuss horizontal communication and its benefits.
A dedicated tool can improve communication
Now that you know the various forms of communication available and how they are used in business, what can you do to put this structure in practice at work?
We have compiled a list to help you improve or implement your communication structure.
Slite helps you and your team stay organized
Slite a collaborative documentation tool that enables team members to easily create, discuss, and archive files.
This solution is used by the members of your company to create dedicated spaces for each task or each project. The collaborative platform allows teams to share documents and notes about projects, strategies, or departments.
Trello is a visual collaboration tool
It allows businesses to create visual maps and organize tasks according to their projects and progress.
Trello is an ideal tool to increase team efficiency and improve interpersonal communications. This solution makes employees more familiar with the concept workflow management. It also allows them to put into practice a wide variety of features such as lists, cards, and Trello boards.
Methods for Horizontal Communication
One of these two options can be use by an organization to implement horizontal communication:
Oral Communication
This communication method includes communicating information via phone calls, voice, video, and face-to-face conversations. This communication method is very effective because the speaker and listener are in direct touch with one another. Interacting orally reduces the chance of misunderstanding.
This horizontal communication system is famous in organizations and most employees uses it. This system can be illustrate by the organization-wide meeting. This method has one drawback: if the listener doesn’t keep a record of the communication, it is possible to lose information. Some businesses prefer the old-fashioned method for communication.
Written Communication
Vertical communication is best done by written communication. Although oral communication is more prevalent in horizontal communication, written communication plays an important role.
This type of communication involves the transmission of information via printing media such as email, applications, or letters. This technique of communication is highly profitable because it has written evidence between the sender and receiver.
Many organizations continue to use this method of communication because of this advantage. This system has its limitations. The organization can suffer if a piece or part of the information is lost, destroy, or is not able to be retain. These forms of horizontal communication are essential for an organization’s efficient functioning. Smooth functioning of the workplace business is possible through a combination of written and oral communication.
Conclusion of Horizontal communication
Horizontal communication is the most effective and widely used method of interaction between people at the same hierarchy level within an organization. It improves coordination and fosters growth. This is why it is a very popular communication method even in today’s digitalize world, where many employee work remotely. It is essential to have the right tools in order to facilitate horizontal communication and overcome the difficulties of modern workplaces. Companies should provide the right channels for employees to collaborate and share information in a healthy, flexible work environment.