1. Workplace Communication Media, Politics and Power
Professional Year Program - Unit 5: Workplace media and communication channels

2. Purpose
The purpose of this session is to highlight the importance of using the right communication channel/media when communicating in the workplace.
We will begin by revisiting the communication process, then we will consider the various communication channels and their differences, look at communication networks in organisations and identify common barriers to effective communication. The session will conclude with exploring the impact of power and politics in the workplace.
This is about telling students why they should listen and how this subject matter is important to them.

3. Overview In this session we will cover the following:
The communication process
Communication media/channels
Information richness and choice of media/channel
Communication networks
Common barriers to effective communication
Power and politics in the workplace

4. The Communication Process
Discuss with students the communication process and highlight the issues that can occur in the process.
Ask them if they have experienced any communication problems and if they can identify at what part of the process it occurred.
The following information from may assist:
“A communication process must have at least two people: a sender and a receiver. The sender has some ideas in his mind and he translates the ideas into words by encoding the message. The medium of this encoded message can be spoken words, written words or signs. This message is transmitted to the receiver and the receiver decodes the message by assigning meaning to the words. However, the understanding of the receiver about the message may not be the same as what the sender means. This problem is caused by noise. Noise is anything that interferes with or distorts the message being transformed and it can be both external or internal. External noise is noise that is in the environment such as distractions whereas internal noise occurs within the sender or the receiver. For example, the sender may be too upset to encode an accurate message or the receiver may be too nervous to pay attention to the message.”

5. Encoding – Verbal & Nonverbal
Verbal Communication
The encoding of messages into words, either written or spoken
Nonverbal
The encoding of messages by means of facial expressions, body language, and styles of dress.

6. Communication Channels
What are the different communication channels that exist in the workplace?

7. Communication Channels
What are the communication channels that exist in the workplace? Can you think of others?
Face to face
Letters
Reports
Meetings
Telephone s
Videoconferencing
Blogs/Forums

8. Information Richness
Different communication channels have different levels of information richness.
It is important to select the communication channel that will provide the level of information richness you need to effectively communicate your message.

9. Information Richness

10. Information Richness
Possible Discussion question here- What is the key factor is determining how “rich” a Communication Media/Channel is?

11. Communication Media Face-to-Face Has highest information richness.
Can take advantage of verbal and nonverbal signals

12. Communication Media Spoken Communication Electronically Transmitted
Has the second highest information richness.
Telephone conversations are information rich with tone of voice, sender’s emphasis, and quick feedback, but provide no visual nonverbal cues.

13. Communication Media Personally Addressed Written Communication
Has a lower richness than the verbal forms of communication, but still is directed at a given person.
Personal addressing helps ensure receiver actually reads the message—personal letters and are common forms.

14. Communication Media Personally Addressed Written Communication
Has a lower richness than the verbal forms of communication, but still is directed at a given person.
Personal addressing helps ensure receiver actually reads the message—personal letters and are common forms.

15. Communication Media Impersonal Written Communication
Has the lowest information richness.
Good for messages to many receivers where little or feedback is expected (e.g., newsletters, reports)

16. Communication Media – Tips for choosing written or verbal

17. Communication Networks
Communication networks consider how information flows between people, teams and within an organisation.
They can be descried as the pathways which information flows in groups and teams and throughout the organisation.

18. Communication Networks – Groups
Some examples

19. Communication Networks - Organisation
Organisation Chart
Summarises the formal reporting channels in an organisation.
Communication in an organization flows through formal and informal pathways
Vertical communications flow up and down the corporate hierarchy.

20. Communication Networks - Organisation
Organisation Chart
Horizontal communications flow between employees of the same level.
Informal communications can span levels and departments—the grapevine is an informal network carrying unofficial information throughout the firm.

21. Communication Networks - Organisations
Formal and Informal Communication Networks in an Organisation
(see next slide)
Formal and Informal Communication Networks in an Organisation

22. Formal and Informal Communication Networks in an Organisation
Discuss the difference between the formal channels and informal channels. What are the benefits of each? What are the disadvantages of each?

23. Common Barriers to Effective Communication
Messages that are unclear, incomplete, difficult to understand
Messages sent over the an inappropriate medium
Messages with no provision for feedback
Messages that are received but ignored
Messages that are misunderstood
Messages delivered through automated systems that lack the human element

24. Power and Politics in the Workplace
Power and politics are part of any group or organisation to varying degrees.
An awareness of these factors is critical in successfully navigating a organisation and communicating effectively.

25. Power and Politics in the Workplace
What is power in the workplace?
The capacity someone has to influence the behaviour of another
What are some examples of power in the workplace?
Is power good or bad?

26. Power and Politics in the Workplace
Types of Power
Formal
Personal
Formal Power
Positional Power
Personal Power
I like you….

27. Power and Politics in the Workplace
What is politics in the workplace?
Activities that are not part of a persons formal job, but that influence the distribution of advantages
What are some examples of politics in the workplace?
Are politics good or bad?

28. Power and Politics in the Workplace
Watch the following video on office politics
Identify two ways you can respond positively to office politics
Watch Video – Office Politics
Video – Office Politics in Unit 5 Learning Materials

29. Power and Politics in the Workplace
Video – Office Politics in Unit 5 Learning Materials

30. Power and Politics in the Workplace
Debrief : Video – Office Politics
Identify two ways you can respond positively to office politics
Video – Office Politics in Unit 5 Learning Materials