Informal communication does not follow any officially recognized rule, regulation and system. It is independent of management control. Informal communication takes place in family, club, religious place, market and in the playground. It may take the shape of conversation or gossiping depending on the personal and social relationship of the parties concerned.
Since informal communication follows no rule, direction or formality, it can quickly transmit any message in various directions. In doing so, it spreads rumor, untrue, distorted and exaggerated messages which hampers organizational harmony and cohesion. The followings are the prime reasons for spreading rumor, untrue and distorted message through informal communication channel:
Effects of informal communication
- Inattention: Inattention of the receiver causes distortion and filtering of information. Therefore, whenever the receiver transmits the received message to others he transmits distorted message.
- Admixture own opinion: Sometimes without getting the right point of a message, the receiver transmits it to other admixture’s own thoughts and opinions. In this way, the message becomes distorted and untrue.
- Complexity of message: Informal communication also spreads rumor if the message is transmitted through complex and unfamiliar channels.
- Absence of predetermined rules and regulations: Informal communication channels do not follow any set rule or predetermined system. For this reason, both sender and receiver engage in exchanging information without any mental preparation that leads to gossiping and creates rumors.
- Exaggerating the information: In some cases, real facts are amplified with false information to draw the attention of others. Such exaggeration of information hides the reality and spreads rumor and untrue.
- Conflict: Conflict between sender and receiver is also responsible for communicating untrue information through informal channels. Due to conflict, the parties concerned rely on information communication channel to transmit false and inaccurate information against each other that deteriorates the relationship.
- Using weak and inappropriate media: As compared to formal channels, informal channels of communication are weak and inappropriate that also causes distortion of information.
- Tendency to resist changes: Sometimes the employees do not like changes in their present working procedures. In this situation, they spread rumor, untrue and false news to prevent the coming changes.
- Loss by transmission: In the process of informal communication, a series of transmission of information occurs. In this situation, the message losses its accuracy. This is also liable to filtering and distortion of information.
From the above discussion, it can be said that the use of informal pattern of communication is too difficult and risky. For enjoying its utilities, utmost care must be taken by both sender and receiver.