Communication
Methods
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Activity 1
Which method of communication you usually use to
communicate in the following situation:
1. In the morning, to inform your mother that you will be
late in the evening after tuition .
2. To inform your teacher why you were absent the
previous day.
3. To ask your friends if there were any homework on the
day you were absent.
Activity 2
Why did you chose the specif
method of communication in
each situation.
(Refer to Activity 1)
The different methods of communication
• Information can be sent or transmitted in a number of different ways – these are called the communication methods.
Below are examples of communication methods which businesses usually use.
Choosing the appropriate communication method
• Speed: Does the receiver need the information quickly? For example, if a manager needs to know
about a canceled meeting before a flight, fast communication is essential.
• Cost: Is it important to keep costs low, or is it more important to get the message across effectively,
no matter the expense? For instance, if there’s a serious safety issue with a product, customers must
be informed, even if it costs more.
• Message Details: How detailed is the message? If it includes technical information, charts, or images,
written or visual communication will be necessary.
• Leadership Style: What is the leadership style? In a democratic environment, two-way conversations
are more common, while an autocratic leader might prefer a different approach.
Choosing the appropriate communication method
• Audience: Who needs to receive the message? If it’s just one person nearby, a face-to-
face chat works well. But if hundreds of people need to know, a different method is needed.
• Written Record: Is it important to have a written record for future reference? For example,
legal contracts and new customer orders must be documented in writing, so verbal
communication wouldn’t be suitable.
• Feedback: Is it crucial for the sender to get feedback quickly? In that case, direct verbal
communication might be best, like checking if a customer has paid for their goods.
VERBAL COMMUNICATION
1. Verbal communication methods
Advantages Disadvantages
Information is given
If talking to many
In verbal communication, the sender speaks to out quickly & an
people, it’s hard to tell
the receiver. It includes: efficient way to
whether everyone got
communicate with
the message.
• face-to-face/one-to-one talks/meetings many people.
between the sender and the receiver
• telephone conversations It is unsuitable for
• video conferencing, where groups of people Opportunity for accurate messages and
immediate feedback requires a permanent
in different locations are able to see and hear record.
each other through a video/internet link
• meetings and team briefings, which could The speaker’s body
involve few or many people. language reinforces
the message.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
2. Written Communication
• Written Methods: Written communication ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
is the exchange of information, ideas, or
Message can be It might lead to too many e-
messages through written language. It can referred to in the future mails and ‘information
as “hard evidence.” overload.’
be in forms of e-mails, memos or letters,
notices, text messages, notices, letters, Easy to explain Two-way communication is
reports including the use of Information complicated messages difficult
Technology
It can be copied and re- It is hard to check if the
sent to many people message has been received
VISUAL COMMUNICATION
3. Visual Communication
Advantages Disadvantages
Visual communication is the
practice of presenting If information is presented No feedback and needs
more appealingly, people other methods of
information with use of visual will be more interested in it. communication to go with it
elements. It includes films,
videos, charts, diagrams, Graphs and charts may be
It can be used to make
pictures and posters. written messages clearer, to
difficult for people to
understand, and the message
illustrate the point
may be misunderstood