Types of communication (according to comm.

Skills)

Communication skills are vital to a healthy, efficient workplace. Often categorized as a

“soft skill” or interpersonal skill, communication is the act of sharing information from
one person to another person or group of people. There are many different ways to
communicate, each of which play an important role in sharing information.

In this article, we take a closer look at the different types of communication and how to
strengthen your skills in each.

Importance of communication
We use communication every day in nearly every environment, including in the
workplace. Whether you give a slight head nod in agreement or present information to a
large group, communication is absolutely necessary when building relationships,
sharing ideas, delegating responsibilities, managing a team and much more.

Learning and developing good communication skills can help you succeed in your
career, make you a competitive job candidate and build your network. While it takes
time and practice, communication and interpersonal skills are certainly able to be both
increased and refined.

There are four main types of communication we use on a daily basis: Verbal, nonverbal,
written and visual. Let’s take a look at each of these types of communication, why they
are important and how you can improve them for success in your career.

Related: Common Communication Barriers

Types of communication
There are several different ways we share information with one another. For example,
you might use verbal communication when sharing a presentation with a group. You
might use written communication when applying for a job or sending an email.

There are four main categories or communication styles including verbal, nonverbal,
written and visual:

1. Verbal

Verbal communication is the use of language to transfer information through speaking

or sign language. It is one of the most common types, often used during presentations,
video conferences and phone calls, meetings and one-on-one conversations. Verbal
communication is important because it is efficient. It can be helpful to support verbal
communication with both nonverbal and written communication.

Here are a few steps you can take to develop your verbal communication skills:

• Use a strong, confident speaking voice. Especially when presenting

information to a few or a group of people, be sure to use a strong voice so that
everyone can easily hear you. Be confident when speaking so that your ideas are
clear and easy for others to understand.
• Use active listening. The other side of using verbal communication is intently
listening to and hearing others. Active listening skills are key when conducting a
meeting, presentation or even when participating in a one-on-one conversation.
Doing so will help you grow as a communicator.
• Avoid filler words. It can be tempting, especially during a presentation, to use
filler words such as “um,” “like,” “so” or “yeah.” While it might feel natural after
completing a sentence or pausing to collect your thoughts, it can also be
distracting for your audience. Try presenting to a trusted friend or colleague who
can call attention to the times you use filler words. Try to replace them by taking a
breath when you are tempted to use them.

2. Nonverbal

Nonverbal communication is the use of body language, gestures and facial expressions
to convey information to others. It can be used both intentionally and unintentionally. For
example, you might smile unintentionally when you hear a pleasing or enjoyable idea or
piece of information. Nonverbal communication is helpful when trying to understand
others’ thoughts and feelings.

If they are displaying “closed” body language, such as crossed arms or hunched
shoulders, they might be feeling anxious, angry or nervous. If they are displaying “open”
body language with both feet on the floor and arms by their side or on the table, they
are likely feeling positive and open to information.

Related: Communication Skills: Definitions and Examples

Here are a few steps you can take to develop your nonverbal communication skills:

• Notice how your emotions feel physically. Throughout the day, as you
experience a range of emotions (anything from energized, bored, happy or
frustrated), try to identify where you feel that emotion within your body. For
example, if you’re feeling anxious, you might notice that your stomach feels tight.
Developing self-awareness around how your emotions affect your body can give
you greater mastery over your external presentation.
• Be intentional about your nonverbal communications. Make an effort to
display positive body language when you feel alert, open and positive about your
 surroundings. You can also use body language to support your verbal
communication if you feel confused or anxious about information, like using a
furrowed brow. Use body language alongside verbal communication such as
asking follow up questions or pulling the presenter aside to give feedback.
• Mimic nonverbal communications you find effective. If you find certain facial
expressions or body language beneficial to a certain setting, use it as a guide
when improving your own nonverbal communications. For example, if you see
that when someone nods their head it communicates approval and positive
feedback efficiently, use it in your next meeting when you have the same feelings.

3. Written

Written communication is the act of writing, typing or printing symbols like letters and
numbers to convey information. It is helpful because it provides a record of information
for reference. Writing is commonly used to share information through books, pamphlets,
blogs, letters, memos and more. Emails and chats are a common form of written
communication in the workplace.

Here are a few steps you can take to develop your written communication skills:

• Strive for simplicity. Written communications should be as simple and clear as

possible. While it might be helpful to include lots of detail in instructional
communications, for example, you should look for areas where you can write as
clearly as possible for your audience to understand.
• Don’t rely on tone. Because you do not have the nuance of verbal and nonverbal
communications, be careful when you are trying to communicate a certain tone
when writing. For example, attempting to communicate a joke, sarcasm or
excitement might be translated differently depending on the audience. Instead, try
to keep your writing as simple and plain as possible and follow up with verbal
communications where you can add more personality.
• Take time to review your written communications. Setting time aside to re-
read your emails, letters or memos can help you identify mistakes or opportunities
to say something differently. For important communications or those that will be
sent to a large number of people, it might be helpful to have a trusted colleague
review it as well.
• Keep a file of writing you find effective or enjoyable. If you receive a certain
pamphlet, email or memo that you find particularly helpful or interesting, save it for
reference when writing your own communications. Incorporating methods or
styles you like can help you to improve over time.

Related: How to Write a Professional Email

4. Visual

Visual communication is the act of using photographs, art, drawings, sketches, charts
and graphs to convey information. Visuals are often used as an aid during presentations
to provide helpful context alongside written and/or verbal communication. Because
people have different learning styles, visual communication might be more helpful for
some to consume ideas and information.

Here are a few steps you can take to develop your visual communication skills:

• Ask others before including visuals. If you are considering sharing a visual aid
in your presentation or email, consider asking others for feedback. Adding visuals
can sometimes make concepts confusing or muddled. Getting a third-party
perspective can help you decide whether the visual adds value to your
communications.
• Consider your audience. Be sure to include visuals that are easily understood
by your audience. For example, if you are displaying a chart with unfamiliar data,
be sure to take time and explain what is happening in the visual and how it relates
to what you are saying. You should never use sensitive, offensive, violent or
graphic visuals in any form.

To make improvements to your communication skills, set personal goals to work

through the things you want to accomplish step by step. It might be helpful to consult
with trusted colleagues, managers or mentors to identify which areas would be best to
focus on first. Media in simple words means technology which is intended to reach out
to the target audience. Media refers to means of communication to reach the target
audience. There is an evolution of the way mass media has been used from Pictorial
representation in early age, Newspaper and Magazines to videos and high tech media
which involves the Internet and Computers. It is a source of information,
entertainment, advertisement and marketing to everyone across the world. This article
will illustrate what isMass Media? What are the types of Mass Media? etc.

What is Mass Media?

Mass Media is a medium to communicate the large masses whether oral, written or
through broadcast to a larger audience. There was a time when people use to switch
on the radio for listening bulletin information or pick up the newspaper for reading
daily headlines and information to know what is going on in the world all-around with
a cup of tea in their hand. But with time, technology has changed and there are other
media introduced to convey information to masses such as:

• Books and Magazines

• Televisions
• Internet videos
• Films and
• Documentarie
Types of Mass Media?
There are various types of mass media we people, even the children who are at home
watching cartoons and geography channels is also a kind of mass media.

We human beings, today, is surrounded by various types of Mass Media which

influences our life. Through oral, written and broadcast medium, all age groups get
knowledge, information and entertainment.

There are 6 types of Mass Media:

• Traditional Media
• Print Media
• Electronic Broadcasting Media
• Outdoor Media
• Transit Media
• Digital Media or New Media

Types

There are various types of mass media which provide us with various types of
Political, Religious, Economics and Social related news and information to the masses
or larger audience through print media or digital media.

Each media has its significance in some or the other way. For example newspaper, a
print provides news headlines and information in rural areas and urban areas as well
as a TV which also provides information, news and entertainment shows through a
digital medium.

• Print Media ( Newspapers, Magazines, books)

• Broadcast media(Radio, TV)
• Outdoor Media
• Internet (websites and videos)

Traditional Media
People over some time developed different ways of communications through local
languages and written medium. Traditional Media is considered as the oldest forms
of media, which transfers culture and tradition from generation to generation.
Communication tools have been developed over some time from customs, rituals,
beliefs and practices of society.
There are various forms of Traditional media:

• Folk Songs and Music

• Theatres and Drama
• Fairs and Festivals

Print Media
Print Media is defined as a Print form of information which is provided to the larger
audience. During Ancient times or Early Age, information is conveyed to the masses
through manuscripts. Before the invention of the Printing press, the articles and
printed matters are to be handwritten that was made available to a larger audience.

There are various forms of Print Media:

• Newspapers
• Journals
• Books, Novels and Comics

Electronic Broadcasting Media

Distribution of content and information through audio and visuals using the electronic
broadcasting medium is called Broadcast.

Broadcast media is a useful medium of the spread of news and information to even
illiterate people and persons having a listening problem or eyesight problem as well.

There are various Electronic Broadcasting Medium:

• Traditional Telephone
• Television
• Radio

Outdoor Media
Transmitting information and news when the public is outside their homes are also
known as Outdoor Media or Out of Home Media. The importance of outside media
is that it provides information related to new products, social information or
advertisement purposes to the masses.

Various forms of Outdoor Media are:

• Signs and Placards
• Posters
• Banners and Wallspace

Transit Media
Transit media revolve around the concept of advertising when customers are out of
home and are going through any transport or on the go to public places.
Advertisements are displayed on the public transport and vehicles on which brand
promotion of a product and services take place.

Forms of Transit media are:

• Bus Advertising
• Taxi Advertising
• Rail Advertising

Digital Media or New Media

With speed and higher digital technology, the Internet has taken over all mediums of
communications. Digital media is a two-way communication as users being active
producers of content and consumers of content and information.

Digital or new media can be text, audio, graphics and video. This media is
increasingly getting popular medium of exchange of information due to ease of
accessibility with a computer and Internet Connection.

Digital Media forms are:

• Emails
• Websites
• Social Media and Networking
• Blogging and Vlogging
• E-forums and E-books
• Computer Animations
• Digital Videos
• E-Commerce
• Virtual world and Reality
• Webcast and Podcast

Types of Mass Media – Impact

In Modern culture and environment, mass media has become one of the significant
forces. All types of mass media communications whether oral, written or broadcast
reaches a larger audience.

• Mass Media plays a very crucial and important role in Indian politics and
democracy.
• Intensive use of Mass media has made easy to reach every corner of the globe.
• Acts as a watchdog of the society.
• It helps in the promotion of goods and services.

Effective Communication
Definition: Effective communication is a process of exchanging ideas, thoughts,
knowledge and information such that the purpose or intention is fulfilled in the
best possible manner. In simple words, it is nothing but the presentation of views
by the sender in a way best understood by the receiver.

Effective Communication
Definition: Effective communication is a process of exchanging ideas, thoughts,
knowledge and information such that the purpose or intention is fulfilled in the
best possible manner. In simple words, it is nothing but the presentation of views
by the sender in a way best understood by the receiver.

We can say that it generally involves;

Sender: The person who initiates the process of communication by

sending a message;

Receiver: The one to whom the message is to be delivered.

Content: Effective Communication

1. Characteristics
2. Skills
3. Significance
4. Barriers

Characteristics of Effective Communication

Just delivering a message is not enough; it must meet the purpose of the sender.
Keeping this in mind, let us discuss the elements which make communication
effective:

• Clear Message: The message which the sender wants to convey must be
simple, easy to understand and systematically framed to retain its
meaningfulness.
• Correct Message: The information communicated must not be vague or
false in any sense; it must be free from errors and grammatical mistakes.
• Complete Message: Communication is the base for decision making. If
the information is incomplete, it may lead to wrong decisions.
• Precise Message: The message sent must be short and concise to facilitate
straightforward interpretation and take the desired steps.
• Reliability: The sender must be sure from his end that whatever he is
conveying is right by his knowledge. Even the receiver must have trust on
the sender and can rely on the message sent.
• Consideration of the Recipient: The medium of communication and
other physical settings must be planned, keeping in mind the attitude,
language, knowledge, education level and position of the receiver.
• Sender’s Courtesy: The message so drafted must reflect the sender’s
courtesy, humbleness and respect towards the receiver.

Effective Communication Skills

• Conveying a message effectively is an art as well as a skill developed after
continuous practice and experience. The predetermined set of skills
required for an influential communication process are as follows:
Observance: A person must possess sharp observing skills to gain more
and more knowledge and information.
• Clarity and Brevity: The message must be drafted in simple words, and it
should be clear and precise to create the desired impact over the receiver.
• Listening and Understanding: The most crucial skill in a person is he
must be a good, alert and patient listener. He must be able to understand
and interpret the message well.
• Emotional Intelligence: A person must be emotionally aware and the
ability to influence others from within.
• Self-Efficacy: Also, he/she must have faith in himself and his capabilities
to achieve the objectives of communication.
• Self-Confidence: Being one of the essential communication skills,
confidence enhances the worthiness of the message being delivered.
• Respectfulness: Delivering a message with courtesy and respecting the
values, believes, opinions and ideas of the receiver is the essence of effective
communication.
 • Non-Verbal Communication: To connect with the receiver in a better
way, the sender must involve the non-verbal means communication too.
These include gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, postures, etc.
• Selection of the Right Medium: Choice of the correct medium for
communication is also a skill. It is necessary to select an appropriate
medium according to the situation, priority of the message, the receiver’s
point of view, etc.

Providing Feedback: Effective communication is always a two-way

process. A person must take as well as give feedback to bring forward the
other person’s perspective too.

Seven C’s of Effective Communication

There are 7 C’s of effective communication which are applicable to both written
as well as oral communication. These are as follows:

1. Completeness - The communication must be complete. It should convey

all facts required by the audience. The sender of the message must take
into consideration the receiver’s mind set and convey the message
accordingly. A complete communication has following features:
▪ Complete communication develops and enhances reputation of an
organization.
▪ Moreover, they are cost saving as no crucial information is missing
and no additional cost is incurred in conveying extra message if the
communication is complete.
▪ A complete communication always gives additional information
wherever required. It leaves no questions in the mind of receiver.
▪ Complete communication helps in better decision-making by the
audience/readers/receivers of message as they get all desired and
crucial information.
▪ It persuades the audience.
2. Conciseness - Conciseness means wordiness, i.e, communicating what
you want to convey in least possible words without forgoing the other C’s
of communication. Conciseness is a necessity for effective
communication. Concise communication has following features:
▪ It is both time-saving as well as cost-saving.
▪ It underlines and highlights the main message as it avoids using
excessive and needless words.
▪ Concise communication provides short and essential message in
limited words to the audience.
▪ Concise message is more appealing and comprehensible to the
audience.
 ▪ Concise message is non-repetitive in nature.
3. Consideration - Consideration implies “stepping into the shoes of others”.
Effective communication must take the audience into consideration, i.e,
the audience’s view points, background, mind-set, education level, etc.
Make an attempt to envisage your audience, their requirements, emotions
as well as problems. Ensure that the self-respect of the audience is
maintained and their emotions are not at harm. Modify your words in
message to suit the audience’s needs while making your message
complete. Features of considerate communication are as follows:
▪ Emphasize on “you” approach.
▪ Empathize with the audience and exhibit interest in the audience.
This will stimulate a positive reaction from the audience.
▪ Show optimism towards your audience. Emphasize on “what is
possible” rather than “what is impossible”. Lay stress on positive
words such as jovial, committed, thanks, warm, healthy, help, etc.
4. Clarity - Clarity implies emphasizing on a specific message or goal at a
time, rather than trying to achieve too much at once. Clarity in
communication has following features:
▪ It makes understanding easier.
▪ Complete clarity of thoughts and ideas enhances the meaning of
message.
▪ Clear message makes use of exact, appropriate and concrete
words.
5. Concreteness - Concrete communication implies being particular and
clear rather than fuzzy and general. Concreteness strengthens the
confidence. Concrete message has following features:
▪ It is supported with specific facts and figures.
▪ It makes use of words that are clear and that build the reputation.
▪ Concrete messages are not misinterpreted.
6. Courtesy - Courtesy in message implies the message should show the
sender’s expression as well as should respect the receiver. The sender of
the message should be sincerely polite, judicious, reflective and
enthusiastic. Courteous message has following features:
▪ Courtesy implies taking into consideration both viewpoints as well
as feelings of the receiver of the message.
▪ Courteous message is positive and focused at the audience.
▪ It makes use of terms showing respect for the receiver of message.
▪ It is not at all biased.
7. Correctness - Correctness in communication implies that there are no
grammatical errors in communication. Correct communication has
following features:
▪ The message is exact, correct and well-timed.
▪ If the communication is correct, it boosts up the confidence level.
▪ Correct message has greater impact on the audience/readers.
▪ It checks for the precision and accurateness of facts and figures
used in the message.
▪ It makes use of appropriate and correct language in the message.