My Learning NotesHow to choose a communication channel
Contents
A communication channel is the medium or mode through which the message is conveyed.
In work-related context there are various communication channel that we may use: email, text, printed words, phone, video call, face to face, written documents, etc.
The choice of the right communication channel is important to increase the effectiveness of the communication. The wrong communication channel can lead to misunderstanding.
The choice depends on various criteria:
- Necessity to keep records of the communication
- Timing: is the message urgent or not?
- Emotions: is important to convey particular emotions?
- Context: what communication channel are available? Are there digital supports?
- Purpose
- Topic
- Audience: who are the receivers of your message? What are they preferences?
| Channel | When to use | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| - necessity to keep records - for documenting decisions - formal communication - for providing facts, data, or details - for providing tasks to be done |
- Less immediate than a text - Difficult to convey emotions - may be misunderstood |
|
| Text | - no urgency - NO necessity to keep records - small and routine tasks - sometimes it is useful to create a specific channel to clarify the topic and make the conversation flows better - informal communication |
- may be misunderstood - may be inadeguate for formal and important communication |
| Printed words | - where there are no digital supports available | - complex when there are multiple audience |
| Phone | - for urgent communication - NO necessity to keep records - when there is the necessity to clarify some concepts |
- may interrupt and distract the receiver if not planned |
| Video Call | - to discuss of various topics - to know new people for the first time when a face to face meetings is complicated - to convey emotions - when there is the necessity to clarify some concepts |
- less immediate |
| Face to Face | - when it is important to convey emotions - to discuss of various topics - when there is the necessity to clarify some concepts |
- may interrupt and distract the receiver if not planned |
| Written documents | - necessity to keep records - require future revisions - collaboration - when there is the necessity to clarify some concepts - if there is the need to clarify and simplify complexity, may be added visuals for easier understanding |
- may be misunderstood |
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