The Four Key Types of Communication To Know

The four main types of communication that we use on a daily basis are verbal, non-verbal, visual and written. Throughout the course of an average day, any given person is likely to use a mix of each type of communication.

The following is a quick summary of each:

This article discusses all four types below in greater detail. First, though, let’s consider why communication is important at work.

Communication is effective when a message is sent and received clearly. But great communication goes further. It helps employees understand what they should do and why they should care about doing it well.  

In a corporate environment, the types of communication you most leverage should form part of your HR strategy. In fact, communication can have a direct impact on the success of your corporate culture and even elements of productivity.

In an ideal environment, employees communicate well, frequently, efficiently, honestly and with respect. It’s a good sign when people speak openly and ask questions because it improves empathy, reduces risks and helps healthy relationships blossom. 

Effective verbal communication consists of pitch, tone, pauses, speed, structure, flow, logic and word choice. Great verbal communicators do more than get the message across: they inspire others. And, they communicate with clarity.

Here are a few tips to improve your verbal communication:

Organisations that invest in effective verbal communication skills (for example, using train-the-trainer programmes) can improve individual skills and elevate the company.

This promotes cohesion, improves standards and might even excite people about learning a new skill.

Non-verbal communication includes tone and pitch, posture and body language, eye contact, facial expressions, hand gestures and even physical distance (proxemics). 

Non-verbal communication reinforces the words, provides feedback to others and defines relationships more clearly (for example, people who trust and empathise with each other are likely to mirror body language).

Some studies suggest that between 70 and 80% of communication is non-verbal! Use these tips to improve non-verbal communication skills:

Knowing how to interpret nonverbal communication is a very valuable skill. It helps leaders interpret cues, suss out dishonesty or discontent and garner support. 

People who understand nonverbal communication show empathy, relate with others, engage effectively and interact meaningfully.

Helping your employees understand non-verbal communication can increase trust, clarity and rapport. But when signals are ignored, it can create tension, mistrust and confusion.

Visual communication leverages the use of images to evoke connotations and deeper meaning. This could include using imagery in a presentation, sharing a photograph, recording or sharing a video or just popping a gif in a message.

Emojis are a good example. Different emojis can mean completely different things to different people. It may even mean far more than you think – so use imagery with care.

Long before we could read or write, we used images to tell stories, document events or pass on information. Even today, road signs are pictographic because a lot of information can be conveyed with one symbol or image.

In a work context, people who understand how to use imagery effectively can turn a boring presentation into an inspiring one or create a compelling message. For example, graphs can show trends, compare numbers or explain relationships between things. 

If in doubt, though, get an expert to help you. 

Written communication involves the written word. This style of communication could include writing an email, typing out a quick text or a Slack message, writing a report or preparing slides for a presentation.

For written communication to thrive, consider this: keep it simple and effective, consider your reader first and do it properly. 

Clear messages are more effective. Remember, words have no context or additional cues. People can read things into messages that weren’t originally intended. To avoid miscommunication, people can be trained in effective written communication. 

This can include: what tone to use, how to write in different contexts, how much information to include, how to get the point across and when to use a different channel (for example, a video meeting or phone call).

The four types of communication are verbal, non-verbal, visual and written communication. No matter how we communicate, start by thinking about what the reader/listener should think, feel and do once they’ve heard or read our message.

At work, people typically communicate face-to-face (verbally), in writing (using email, messaging tools like Slack or project management tools like Trello), using images (like graphs and pictures on presentations) and non-verbally. 

Company leaders, HR teams and managers should take every opportunity to improve their team’s communication effectiveness through training, coaching and sharing knowledge and best practice. 

When HR-related documentation needs to be recorded, ensure it’s done effectively, safely and securely. Keep all your most-pressing employee documents secure, and speak with an expert by booking your own demo with Personio today.