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Summary: Informal communication is usually used for social interactions and is casual and unstructured.

What is informal communication, and what are some examples?

Informal communication, also known as unofficial communication, is the casual exchange of information that doesn’t follow official, formal structures and channels put in place by an organization. 

This contrasts with formal communication that follows official channels and flows in the direction of hierarchical structures. Informal communication is usually used for social interactions and is casual and unstructured. Unlike formal communication, it isn’t monitored by any authority and doesn’t require documentation for future reference.

Examples of informal communication include:

  • Text messaging: Staff may chat with each other using instant messaging apps about work or unrelated personal business. However, many enterprises also use group chats as a formal means of communication.  
  • Unplanned chats: Employees who meet and chat at the water cooler, at the coffee station, or in the break room are communicating informally.
  • Team-building activities: When staff meet for office lunches or volunteering opportunities, the planning might be done through formal channels, but their face-to-face communication is informal.

What are the benefits of informal communication in the workplace?

Imagine a workplace that uses only formal communication channels like memos, reports, press releases, and emails, and you’ll quickly realize the importance of informal communication. It’s useful for:

  • Building relationships: Informal communication is casual, non-hierarchical, and friendly. It allows employees to get to know each other better, have fun together, and connect with each other.
  • Establishing trust: When employees can communicate openly and freely, they feel more able to express themselves and their ideas. This, in turn, can lead to more innovation and creative solutions that may otherwise go uncommunicated.
  • Improving work environments: Working environments where staff are not allowed to talk to each other except through formal channels are bleak and stressful. Informal communication allows people to talk in normal human ways that they feel comfortable with, helping to build a much more comfortable atmosphere. Friendly communication with others is also one of the most important ways that employees can relieve stress and improve their mental health in the workplace.
  • Enhancing knowledge sharing: While many pundits might define informal communication as casual and unrelated to work, in actual fact, much of this communication is work-related. Formal channels may not offer the opportunities employees need to share their knowledge, while informal communication allows the free transfer of ideas.
  • Building engagement: Many employees may not have much of a voice or means to express themselves in formal settings. However, they can feel more engaged and heard when they communicate informally with their colleagues. This promotes enhanced feelings of worth and helps to prevent employees from leaving.

What are the potential risks or drawbacks of relying on informal communication?

Informal communication is clearly useful and necessary in any organization. At the same time, it has risks and drawbacks that need to be considered, such as:

  • Unconfirmed information: Employees can spread unconfirmed information and rumors that could cause mistakes and misunderstandings or even add stress to the working environment.
  • Gossip: Informal communication gives employees the ability to talk to each other about each other and management. This can become negative, and certain people can be targeted or even bullied.
  • Poor communication: If tasks are delegated without formal documentation, they could be misunderstood even though both sides of the communication believe they’re aligned. Relying on informal communication can even cause tasks and responsibilities to be missed or forgotten.
  • Inefficiency: While formal channels, like emailing every team member, can be highly efficient, informal means may take more time to get messages to everyone concerned.

How does informal communication affect employee relationships and workplace culture?

Informal communication can have different effects on employee relationships, which can be both positive and negative.

On the one hand, informal communication can strengthen the bonds between employees, helping them to work better as a team and create a more positive working environment. On the other hand, informal communication can be inefficient, sloppy, and even very negative. It can reduce job satisfaction, damage productivity, and create a negative atmosphere in an office.

Drew Donnelly
Drew Donnelly

Director, Regulatory Affairs

 Linkedin

Andrew (Drew) joined the Remote People team in 2020 and is currently Director, Regulatory Affairs. For the past 13 years, he has been a trusted advisor to C-Suite executives and government ministers on international compliance and regulatory issues. Drew holds a law degree from the University of Otago, a PhD from the University of Sydney, and is an enrolled Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand.