Formal and Informal Communication

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Formal and Informal Communication

Someone said correctly “The very attempt of, not to speak, speaks a lot.”Communication” plays a crucial role in our life, as people interchange their ideas, information, feelings, opinions by communicating.”

Formal Communication:

Formal communication is one that passes through predefined channels of communication throughout the organization. 

Informal Communication:

On the contrary, Informal communication refers to the form of communication which flows in every direction, i.e. it moves freely in the organization.

Types of Formal Communication

  1. Upward or Bottom-up Communication
  2. Downward or Top-down Communication
  3. Horizontal or Lateral Communication
  4. Crosswise or Diagonal Communication


  1. Upward or Bottom-up Communication: The communication in which the flow of information goes from subordinate to superior authority.
  2. Downward or Top-down CommunicationThe communication in which the flow of information goes from superior to subordinate.
  3. Horizontal or Lateral CommunicationThe communication between two employees of different departments working at the same level.
  4. Crosswise or Diagonal Communication: The communication between the employees of two different departments working at different levels.

Informal Communication

“The communication which does not follow any pre-defined channel for the transmission of information is known as informal communication. “

This type of communication moves freely in all directions, and thus, it is very quick and rapid. In any organization, this type of communication is very natural as people interact with each other about their professional life, personal life, and other matter.

Types of Informal Communication

  1. Single Stand Chain 
  2. Cluster Chain
  3. Probability Chain
  4. Gossip Chain

  1. Single Strand Chain:  The communication in which one person tells something to another, who again says something to some other person and the process goes on.
  2. Cluster Chain: The communication in which one person tells something to some of its most trusted people, and then they tell it to their trustworthy friends and the communication continues.
  3. Probability Chain: The communication happens when a person randomly chooses some persons to pass on the information which is of little interest but not important.
  4. Gossip Chain: The communication starts when a person tells something to a group of people, and then they pass on the information to some more people, and in this way, the information is passed on to everyone.