What is horizontal communication?
Depending on the hierarchical framework in which it occurs, we find two distinct types of business communication: vertical and horizontal. Unlike the former, which occurs between subordinates and superiors (bottom-up) and vice versa (top-down), Horizontal communication is that which is established between people of the same hierarchical level or where there is no relationship of authority, It flows laterally, as can happen between workers in the same team or employees in different departments or branches, for example.
As Razo Téllez Nancy and Fidel Nefy explain in their work Horizontal Communication, this communication method “develops between Individuals at the same hierarchical level who have the possibility of communicating directly with each other”Their objective, the authors continue, “is to provide a channel for coordination and problem-solving, as well as offering the alternative of relating as similar people within the organisation, which makes job satisfaction very important.”.
When to use horizontal communication?
Therefore, horizontal communication is particularly recommended in cases where:
- It requires a high coordination of various professionals for the achievement of the set objectives. This would be the case, for example, of opening a new office, where all departments are involved in the relocation and commencement of activities.
- It is advisable to providing support and emotional support to workers. This is, for example, a new employee joining the company and needing their colleagues to help them adapt.
Here are the pros and cons of horizontal communication:
**Pros:**
* **Improved Teamwork and Collaboration:** Encourages people at the same level to work together, share ideas, and solve problems collectively.
* **Faster Decision-Making:** Often quicker to resolve issues or make decisions when information is exchanged directly between peers.
* **Increased Morale and Engagement:** Employees can feel more valued and involved when they can communicate freely with colleagues, fostering a more positive work environment.
* **Enhanced Problem-Solving:** Different perspectives from colleagues at the same level can lead to more innovative and effective solutions.
* **Better Information Flow:** Ensures that relevant information is disseminated efficiently among team members, reducing bottlenecks.
* **Stronger Relationships:** Builds rapport and trust between colleagues, leading to a more cohesive team.
**Cons:**
* **Potential for Conflict:** Disagreements or personality clashes between colleagues can hinder communication.
* **Formation of Cliques:** Communication may become exclusive within specific groups, excluding others.
* **Lack of Clear Direction:** Without clear leadership oversight, horizontal communication might lead to fragmented efforts or a lack of strategic alignment.
* **Information Overload:** Too much informal communication can lead to employees being overwhelmed with details.
* **Slower Formal Processes:** While informal horizontal communication can be fast, formalising decisions or actions that arise from it might still require vertical communication, potentially slowing things down.
* **Status and Power Dynamics:** Even among peers, subtle status differences or perceived rivalries can sometimes impede open communication.
Among the advantages of horizontal communication, the following are found:
- It allows the Information gathering of great dynamic value.
- Streamline the adoption of faster and more consensual decisions This is a particularly important benefit in the case of cross-departmental projects.
- Reduces the risk of errors, The Committee is also concerned about the need to have different points of view when it comes to making decisions.
- It boosts the team coordination and optimises the distribution of tasks.
- Enriches the creativity from the workers by having broader information and different points of view or areas of knowledge.
- Reduces the bureaucracy.
- Contributes to the Resolution of problems or disputes within the organisation.
- Improves relations between workers and increases teamwork and the creation of emotional bonds within the company.
- It is configured as emotional and social support which reduces negative moods.
- Generate climates of trust in the company that they drive motivation and job satisfaction.
However, horizontal communication is not without some disadvantages or limitations when the foundations for its development are not correctly established. In this respect, we can point out:
- over-communication of information within the workforce can cause overload of professionals.
- The data generated must be classified, entailing a waste of time in this work if an effective methodology is not adopted.
- Can you generate more Confusion and lack of understanding if adequate channels and protocols for communication management are not established.
- You can also produce errors arising from excessive technical jargon, which is not understood by all departments.
- Can be used with individualistic purposes for some professionals or departments, who use it to unfairly compete with their colleagues.
- If a positive working environment does not exist among the human capital, who become involved and committed to transmitting the message, horizontal communication, ultimately, will be ineffective.
How to carry it out?
When it comes to the flow of information between an organisation's human capital, the mechanisms or instruments the reasons for horizontal communication to occur in a company are varied. Among the most frequent, we can highlight:
- Email and intranet chats.
- Telephone calls.
- Personal interviews between employees.
- Group meetings, both intra-departmental and multi-departmental.
- Social networking.
- Corporate communication applications.
- Task management programmes.
- Instant messaging.
- Video conferencing.
- Teambuilding activities.
- Social and recreational events.
Now, as in any communicative process, alongside the concretisation of information exchange channels, It is also necessary to promote guidelines to facilitate understanding between the parties..
In this regard, it should be borne in mind that, during communication, the speakers are exposed to a series of communication barriers. More specifically, as Alejandro Huacon explains in his work Barriers in the communication process, individuals face the following impediments:
- Semantic barriers: related to the meaning of the words themselves or to the sense or concept they genuinely wish to convey.
- Physiological barriersThese include physiological impediments or defects of the sender or receiver, such as aphonia, for example.
- Psychological barriers They refer to the psychological state of the receiver and the sender as a determining element in the understanding or distortion of the message.
- Physical barriers they are generated by the physical environment, such as interference on the telephone or excessive noise in the office.
- Administrative barriers: they occur due to poor planning in the communication process.
Therefore, to prevent information from becoming distorted and to ensure it is conveyed in the most direct and clear manner, coach Aida Barda, in her article 7 keys to effective communication, provides the following tips for giving and receiving feedback:
- Clarity. It is advisable to consider what you want to say and convey it as clearly and simply as possible to avoid interference.
- Brevity. Superfluous information that could cause confusion must be avoided; the more concrete and direct the message's content, the less risk of it being misunderstood.
- Concretion. Horizontal communication must be specific and contain all the necessary details for the message to be understood.
- Correction. It is important to adapt the content of the information to the recipient.
- Coherence. The message must be coherent, following a logical and connected narrative thread.
- Assertiveness. The transmission must be assertive, taking into account the other person's circumstances.
- Creativity. Although the expert points out that it's not an essential requirement, creative messages are more appealing and, therefore, spark the interlocutor's interest.
