Tune Your Communication

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Choose the right channel to communicate with your audience.

There's a rumor going around that your department is closing, but you can't get to speak to anyone to find out if it's true. You only have an email forwarded to you from your manager, originally sent by the head of your division.

This type of situation can create uncertainty, as people will naturally be worried about their jobs. It would have been more helpful if they had been briefed face to face, and been given the chance to ask questions and air their concerns.

There's no "one-size-fits-all" way to deliver business communication. But using one channel for every situation is not a viable option, if you want your messages to be received and understood by the right people, at the right time.

There is a range of communication channels you can use, for example, email, phone, instant message (IM), print, and social media. In fact, the number of channels available can be overwhelming and confusing, particularly if you haven't been trained to communicate effectively.

In this article, we explore some of the most popular communication channels in detail, to help you to decide the most appropriate one for your message and your situation.

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