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In Step 3 of the Communication Process, you select a channel or medium, such as email or telephone, to send your message. (For more information about the six steps of the
| Type of Channel | Topic or issue |
| Face-to-face | All personnel issues |
| Telephone | Discuss new policy or procedure |
| Schedule meeting | |
| Letter or memo | Job offer |
| Bulletin board or posting | Announce holiday party |
Use the channels at the top (face-to-face or telephone) when the message is complex and less routine. Also use these channels more frequently with new employees or people you don't get along with.
Always use face-to-face meetings to discuss difficult personnel issues with your direct reports, except when your employee is at a remote location that you rarely visit.
Select channels more strategically based on who you are communicating with and what your goal is for the interaction.
Give Yourself a Score on Step 3
Keeping all of your direct reports in mind, how often do you select a communication channel based on the receiver and the topic? You can use grades like A, B, C, D or F. Or you can use percentages like 30%, 65% or 87% of the time.
To read in detail about each step in the Communication Process Diagram, click on a step below:
1. Sender Recognizes Intention,
2. Sender Encodes Message,
3. Sender Selects Channel, (Return to top of this page)
4. Receiver Decodes Message,
5. Receiver Interprets Intention, and
6. Sender Requests and Receiver Gives Feedback.
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