Communication Directions
In addition to the communication that occurs within organizations, each of us has our own individual
communication style. Many organizations give tests that may indicate their candidate’s preferred style,
providing information on the best job fit.
As you already know, communication in companies is key to having a successful organization. Of course,
learning how to communicate better, as a result, is the cornerstone of a successful career. Likewise,
understanding how companies communicate with employees can result in employees who are more loyal
and motivated.
Those that don’t communicate well, though, see increased turnover, absenteeism, dissatisfied customers,
higher product defect rates, lack of focus on business objectives, and lack of innovation. [2]
Four main types of communications occur within a company: upward communication, downward
communication, diagonal communication, and horizontal communication. Each type of communication
can serve a different purpose in human resources, and many messages may be sent in a variety of ways.
Upward communication is when the lower levels of an organization communicate with the upper
levels of an organization.
