{"id":42509,"date":"2022-06-30T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-30T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businessyield.com\/?p=42509"},"modified":"2022-07-24T16:35:01","modified_gmt":"2022-07-24T16:35:01","slug":"upward-communication","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businessyield.com\/careers\/upward-communication\/","title":{"rendered":"UPWARD COMMUNICATION: Definition, Examples & How to Foster in a Workplace","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"\n
According to research, more than 75% of workers are unable to freely communicate and express themselves at their workplaces. It’s much worse when they think they can’t express their thoughts or speak their mind regarding work or an ongoing personal challenge. The lack of their inexpressiveness can thus result in reduced productivity, resignation, work stress or health breakdown, and even work conflicts. Hence, communication in the workplace is a very integral part of a working environment and is highly encouraged. Employees should freely communicate with their managers\/employers as well as employers\/managers with their employees. Discover what upward and downward communication is with an example and how one can foster upward communication. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let’s get on to business!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the name implies, upward communication simply means communication flowing from bottom to top, i.e., from subordinates to superiors in an organization. It is a means by which subordinates or employees directly communicate with top management and relate their thoughts regarding their work performance, problems, new ideas or opinions, etc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most companies employed downward communication as their primary mode of communication up until recently during the COVID-19 pandemic. This method was already the norm in the majority of organizations until the pandemic brought about new ways of working ranging from hybrid styles to remote jobs, to freelancing<\/a>, etc., where businesses both small and big had to figure out a way to sustain and enhance communication between employees to ensure they are meeting targets and their safety is guaranteed. However, this tremendous change worldwide has been the catalyst for the shift to upward communication. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As a result, the upward communication style of communication has a significant impact on business success that the downward communication method doesn’t have, ensuring:<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are various examples and types or means of upward communication, including the following<\/p>\n\n\n\n This example of upward communication reveals that the performance reports in upward communication give employees or subordinates the opportunity to communicate their work reports to their superiors and also allow them to rate the performance of the superiors as well as other employees. Hence, management\/superior is updated on where changes need to be made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meetings at work are a good way of upward communication since they allow employees to communicate with those in positions of authority. For example, these upward communication meetings can include Employee-Manager meetings and Team Meetings, group discussions, one-on-one meetings, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Employees can submit written feedback, concerns or complaints, and suggestions for management evaluation here. More so it could be an actual box or board, or it could be in an online format.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Employees at the highest levels of management and those in human resources participate in focus groups to talk about pressing issues facing the company’s workforce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To get a sense of how happy employees are with their jobs and the company culture <\/a>as a whole, companies conduct employee satisfaction surveys. Besides, this is one of the best ways to encourage upward communication among employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before we get into the differences between upward and downward communication, it’s good we orient ourselves with what downward communication is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Downward communication is basically a mode of communication, in contrast to upward communication whereby information and messages flow from the upper level of the organizational structure to the lower level. Thus, the information goes down to the employees\/subordinates from the managers\/superiors through a hierarchy system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let’s look at the differences between upward and downward communication from a different perspective. The following is a table that compares the two types of communication:<\/p>\n\n\n\nImportance of Upward Communication<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Example \/Types of Upward Communication<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
#1. Reports on Work or Performance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
#2. Meetings in the Workplace<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
#3. Opinion Box or Board<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
#4. Focus Groups<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
#5. Employee Satisfaction Surveys<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Differences Between Upward and Downward Communication<\/h2>\n\n\n\n