8 Difference Between Formal and Informal Communication

Formal and informal communication are subcategories of verbal communication. Communication is very important to pass or exchange message, ideas with others. Formal communication is a professional communication which follows a predefined path to exchange the message from one person to other. While informal communication doesn’t follow any defied path to exchange the message or idea. These day if anyone want success in his life it is very important to have good communication skills. Communication may be verbal or nonverbal and oral and written.

In ancient times people uses nonverbal or sign language to pass their messages. With the time human being start talk and write and other types or category of the communication comes in our day to day life. These days organisation and companies are increasing day by day. Formal and informal communication are used in the organisation as well as outside.

Many of us think that formal and informal communication are the same. But there are many differences between formal and informal communication. Formal communication is also known as the predefined path communication and organisational communication. In this article we will discuss in detail and differences between formal and informal communication. We will also discuss the subcategories of Formal and Informal communication.

Formal communication vs informal communication

Sr. No	Formal Communication	Informal Communication
1	A proper pre-defined path or channel is followed.	No proper channel or path followed.
2	Slow in nature.	Very fast in nature.
3	Has rigid rules and regulations.	No rigid rules and regulation.
4	Also known as official communication.	Also known as grapevine communication.
5	Mostly done in the writing format so an evidence available of the communication.	Mostly No evidence is available.
6	Secrecy is maintained.	No secrecy is maintained.
7	Time consuming.	No time consuming.
8	Main purpose of formal communication is to fulfil the organisational objectives.	Main purpose of informal communication is to share feelings, needs and interests with others.

Formal communication

This is the communication in which a predefined path or channel is followed to convey the message. This pre-defined channel is defined by the organisation and the company. Let’s makes it easy when a director of the company wants to address the works of the manufacturing department in that case director will pass message to the CEO of the organisation after that CEO will pass that message to manager of the organisation after that organisation manager pass that message to production manager. After that production manager pass massage to the supervisor of the production after receiving message from the production manager he will address the worker or the production department.

This the channel of the formal communication. Same way if a worker wants to send message to MD of the company same channel will followed from bottom to top. This is an effective way of communication in which message is passed correctly. This method is more time consuming due to the more person includes in it. Formal communication is mostly done in the written form. So a proper evidence is remaining available for the Formal communication. There is no danger of Rumour in the formal communication because it provides priority for the secrecy of the message.

Types of formal communication

1. Downward:

Communication in which message move from top to bottom management i.e. MD to worker through a defined channel.

2. Upward:

Communication in which massage move from bottom to top management i.e. work to company manager through a proper defined channel.

3. Horizontal:

Message exchange or communication between two people of some company who are working in different departments but has the same level i.e. communication between production manager and packing manager.

4. Diagonal:

Message exchange or communication between two employees of different departments who are working on different levels.

Informal communication

This is the communication in which proper or predefined channel is not followed to pass the message. This type of communication is used between friends and the relatives. This communication is freely move in any direction. Informal communication has high speed to pass message because direct communication is takes place between the person no intermediate person is involved.

In this type of communication, the danger of the rumour is very much. No secrecy is possible in informal communication. This communication is very flexible in nature.

1. Single chain.

2. Gossip chain.

3. Cluster chain.

Main differencee between formal and informal communication

1. A proper pre-defined path or channel is followed by the Formal communication. No proper channel or path followed by the informal communication.
2. Formal communication is a slow in nature. Informal communication is very fast in nature.
3. Formal communication has rigid rules and regulations. No rigid rules and regulation in informal communication.
4. Formal communication is also known as official communication. Informal communication is also known as grapevine communication.
5. Formal communication mostly done in the writing format so a evidence available of the communication. Mostly No evidence is available for the informal communication.
6. Secrecy is maintained in Formal communication. No secrecy is maintained in informal communication.
7. Formal communication is time consuming. Informal communication is less time consuming.
8. Main purpose of formal communication is to fulfil the organisational objectives. Main purpose of informal communication is to share feelings, needs and interests with others.

Conclusion

Communication is very important in our day to day life. Its main categories are verbal and nonverbal communication. Formal and informal communication are the types of the verbal communication. Formal and informal communication have their own uses, advantages and disadvantage. Formal communication is a professional or organisational communication. While informal communication is the communication which is generally used by all human beings to share their feelings, emotions, needs etc. When we gossip in the group and team it is the type of informal communication.

This is all about the formal and informal communication. Hope this article will help you to understand the concept of the formal and informal communication. If you have any doubt, please feel free to comment on us. For more interesting topics like this please go through our website.