Communication is passing of information from one person to another. Communication should be clear always. It should be understood by the person who receives it. The four elements in the process of communication are the sender, the receiver, the communication channels, the symbols. The sender is one who starts the communication process. He or she is the one who wants to pass information to others. The receiver is the one who receives the information and understands it. The communication channel is the medium through which the information is pass from the sender to the receiver. The symbols provide the basis for transfer of information.
The communication should be in the language known to the receiver. Correct channel of communication should be used. Where records of communication are necessary, written method is used where the communication should be fast, oral method is used. The message should be adequate. Communication should be send at the correct time. It should be check whether the message is received and understood by the receiver. Informal communication must be used judiciously. Normally communication flows in three different directions like downward communication, upward communication and horizontal or lateral communication. Downward communication is the communication sent from the higher level to the lower level, i.e., from superior to subordinates. Upward communication is the communication sent from the lower level to the higher level, i.e., from the subordinate to superior. Horizontal communication which takes place between the people at the same level, i.e., supervisor to supervisor.
