The Grapevine

• Characteristics of the Grapevine
  • Grapevine: an organization’s informal communication network. The grapevine cuts across the chain of command that are recognized by management.
  • Occurs through word of mouth transmission. There are several (i.e. “office grapevine”). The grapevine can transmit information relevant to the performance of the organization as well as personal gossip.
• Who Participates in the Grapevine
  • Extraverts might be more likely to pass on information than introverts. Those who lack self-esteem might pass on information that gives them a personal advantage.
• Pros and Cons of the Grapevine
  • Rumour: an unverified belief that is in general circulation. The grapevine can be a real problem when rumours become spread around. Rumours spread the fastest and farthest when the information is especially ambiguous, when the content of the rumour is important to those involve, when the rumour seems credible, and when the recipient is anxious.
  • It can keep employees informed about important organizational matters, such as job security. In some organizations, management is so notoriously lax at this that the grapevine is a regular substitute for formal communication. It can add a little interest and diversion to the work setting.

The Verbal Language of Work

• Jargon: specialized language used by job holders or members of particular occupations or organizations.
• While jargon is an efficient means of communicating with peers and provides a touch of status to those who have mastered it, it can also serve as a barrier to communicating with others. For example, local jargon might serve as a barrier to clear communication between departments such as sales and engineering.

The Nonverbal Language at Work

• Nonverbal communication: the transmission of messages by some medium other than speech or writing.
• Body Language
  • Body language: nonverbal communication by means of a sender’s bodily emotions, facial expressions, or physical location.
• Props, artifacts, and costumes.
  • Office décor and arrangement: the décor and arrangement of furniture in a person’s office conveys nonverbal information to visitors.
  • Does clothing communicate? Research reveals that clothing does indeed communicate. Research simulations have shown that more masculinely dressed and groomed women are more likely to be selected for executive jobs.

Gender Differences in Communication

• According to Deborah Tannen, there are gender differences in communication styles
  • Girls see conversations as a way to develop relationships and networks of connection and intimacy.
  • Boys view conversations as a way for them to achieve status within groups and to maintain independence.

Cross-Cultural Communication

• Cross cultural communication can be extremely difficult and broad across spectrums of localized understanding.
• Language Differences
  • Communication is generally better between individuals or groups who share similar cultural values. Despite acknowledged differences in terminology, North American and British people should not have difficulty understanding one another.
• Nonverbal Communication across cultures
  • Facial expressions (some are more able to detect anger, surprise or fear), gestures, gaze (some cultures encourage/discourage it), touch (cultures have different opinions about this)
  • Etiquette and Politeness across cultures
  • Cultures differ considerably in how etiquette and politeness are expressed. Very often, this involves saying things that one does not literally mean. The problem is that the exact form that it takes varies across cultures, and careful decoding is necessary to avoid confusion and embarrassment.
  • In some cultures, politeness is expressed with modesty that seems excessive to North Americans.
• Social conventions across cultures
  • Cultural differences in a simple “hello” are tremendous. These differences can lead to huge misunderstandings.
• Cultural context
  • Cultural context: the cultural information that surrounds a communication episode
  • Some cultures are high context cultures. That means that the message contained in communication is strongly influenced by the context in which the message is sent. In high-context cultures, literal interpretations are often incorrect.
  • Low context cultures: less aware of nonverbal cues, environment and situation, lack well-developed networks, need detailed background information, tend to segment and compartmentalize information, control information on a “need-to-know” basis, prefer explicit and careful directions from someone who “knows”, knowledge is a commodity.
  • High context cultures: (most information drawn from surroundings. Very little must be explicitly transferred). Nonverbal important, information flows freely, physical context relied upon for information, environment and situation and gestures must all be taken into account, maintain extensive information networks.