What Are The 8 Models Of Communication?

We can’t live without communication. All our lives are in sync. So, is communication all about connecting and interacting as we always do?  

Maybe not. If you think deeply, proper communication can work wonders. If your communication with your partner is shallow, it may spoil your family life. Similarly, poor communication in a project can drag down its quality.  

To improve communication skills, we need to learn about communication models. These models are the paradigms that compel us to think of a suitable communication strategy. We can also learn the intricate factors that manage communication in a team.  

Before we go deeper into the models, we need to understand more aspects of communication. Firstly, communication is mainly of two kinds- verbal and non-verbal. Secondly, formal communication is different from informal communication.  

Patterns and approaches matter most in the case of formal communication. Since we are discussing communication as a corporate tool here, we will emphasize formal communication more than anything else.  

Why does a communication model matter?  

A communication model is an outline of how the communication will take place. Meanwhile, let me tell you that different forms of communication work best in other instances.  

But communication has a basic outline. Unless you understand it, you can’t fathom how the models contribute.  

Firstly, every communication has two entities- the sender and the receiver. Secondly, it involves a channel. The channel depends on the context and situation. For example, I will make a phone call to convey a message to my friend. However, I will use email to communicate instructions to my team in the office.  

The last thing is encoding and decoding a message. The sender will encode the message, and the receiver will decode it. 

Linear Models Of Communication

The linear communication models are the simplest. They include one-way communication only. However, there is one grave demerit of the model. It does not leave space for the receiver to share feedback. 

Hence, we also need interactive and transactional communication channels in the office. Meanwhile, we will focus on the first only. We can later focus on the more complex communication models.  

The following models are used profusely in different layers of a corporate setting:  

1. Aristotle’s Model Of Communication

This is one of the first models of communication, created way back in 300 BC. He created this model to make people understand the communication process and become more persuasive and influential. This model became widely accepted as the basic knowledge for all public speakers in Greece during his era.

This model focuses on one-way communication. Here, the various elements of the communication process are:

Speaker > Speech > Audience > Effect

Here, communication starts with the speaker. After they say something (the speech), it reaches the audience (listener). Depending on what the speaker has said, it will have an effect and induce a reaction from the listener.

Corporate Instance: Imagine a setting where the team lead gives new instructions to the team members. It is a kind of one-way communication. Since it is a linear mode of communication, you can use a video conference to convey the message.  

2. Laswell’s Model Of Communication

Laswell’s Model of Communication can be seen today as an improvement of Aristotle’s model of communication. Compared to the previous model, there is only one significant change – the addition of mediums.

The elements of Laswell model of communication are:

Communicator > Message > Medium > Receiver > Effect

Here, the communicator (speaker) says something (message) to the receiver (listener) through a medium (process). This is done in order to induce an effect (feedback) on the receiver. 

Therefore, unlike Aristotle’s model, this model includes written forms of communication. This is because the medium of communication can be verbal or nonverbal (written or sign language).

Corporate Instance: Imagine an announcement by the manager about upcoming project delivery data on the speaker. You were not aware that the day was approaching. And now the message makes you recollect how much work you’re left with.  

3. Shannon – Weaver’s Model Of Communication

Shannon -Weaver’s model of communication is an update of Laswell’s Model of communication. Here, the inclusion of barriers to communication, like noise, has been introduced in the cycle. In addition, this model includes encoding and decoding of messages. 

The elements of this model of communication are

Sender > Encoder > Channel > Decoder > Receiver^Noise

Here, we can see that the sender of the message sends a message after encoding it (verbal or sign language) through a medium (channel). This message then needs to be decoded (using the ear and brain) by the receiver in communication. However, some form of obstacle can exist in the channel, like noise (verbal). 

Corporate Instance: Imagine you received your employment credentials from HR. It has your SSN and other personal data. Hence, it is password protected. The password here is the noise that the model speaks of.  

4. Berlo’s SMCR Model Of Communication

According to Berlo’s SMCR Model of communication, communication takes place using four elements. These four elements are

Source > Message > Channel > Receiver

However, this model is not as simple as it looks. Here, each element is affected by five different factors that influence the communication process as a whole. These factors are

Corporate Instance: You take part in corporate training with your senior. Here, you can access a PPT and receive verbal instructions from the trainer. So, the channels used here are seeing and listening. 

At the end of the session, the receiver’s knowledge base will improve. This is the outcome of the communication during the session.  

Interactive Models Of Communication 

An interactive communication model refers to a communication model where the receiver provides feedback to the sender. However, most interactive models acknowledge that feedback is slow and can be indirect. 

Now, we understand the essential elements of a communication channel. So, we must accept the role of the receiver here. Imagine the receiver is your colleague, who disapproves of your working methods.  

He wants to promote you and suggest changes in real-time. In a video message, he can’t do that. So you need to take part in an actual meeting. But before you do that, learn about these interactive communication models:  

Source 🡪 Communication skills 🡪 Attitude 🡪 Knowledge 🡪 Social system 🡪 Culture	Message 🡪 Elements 🡪 Structure 🡪 Content 🡪 Treatment 🡪 Code
Channel 🡪 Seeing 🡪 Hearing 🡪 Touching 🡪 Smelling 🡪 Tasting	Receiver 🡪 Communication skills 🡪 Attitude 🡪 Knowledge 🡪 Social system 🡪 Culture

Interactive Models Of Communication

An interactive model of communication refers to a communication model where the receiver provides feedback to the sender. However, most interactive models acknowledge the fact that feedback is slow and can be indirect.

The various interactive models of communication are:

5. Osgood – Schramm’s Model Of Communication

This model of communication is used to describe the various facets of interpersonal and synchronous communication. However, this model cannot be used to describe linear communication with no feedback.

The elements of Osgood – Schramm’s model of communication are:

Encoder/Interpreter/Decoder > Message < Encoder/Interpreter/Decoder

Here, Wilbur Schramm describes communication as a two-way process where both the speaker and the listener encode, interpret, and decode the messages sent. Here, everyone in the communication process encodes (speaks using mouth), interprets, and decodes (with ear and brain) the messages.

Osgood and Schramm describe communication as a continuous process here. Therefore, messages are sent back and forth between the sender and the receiver.

Corporate Instance: A team meeting is taking place. At that meeting, the sales team members discuss their sales figures with essential clients. The sales manager is present at the conference. He is approving some of the statements and counter-questioning others.  

All participants decoded the coded reports (sales figures and charts) that each one sent.  

6. Westley – McLean’s Model Of Communication

The models of communication so far have described communication as a conversation between two people. However, this model breaks the status quo by describing mass communication. Therefore, this model can be used to describe the communication of ideas through newspapers.

The elements of this model of communication are:

Environmental Factors / Sensory Experience > [Sender > Gatekeeper > Receiver]

Here, the sender of the message sends the message to the receiver through a gatekeeper (referring to news editors). However, their messages are influenced by external environmental factors. Here, environmental factors refer to various events that are witnessed by reporters.

Corporate Instance: You want to highlight errors in a team’s performance as the executive head. But you want the team lead to convey the message personally and empathetically to the members.  

Here, the team lead is the gatekeeper.  

Transactional Models Of Communication

A transactional model of communication takes into consideration that communication is a dynamic process. Here, the sender and the receiver of messages are referred to as communicators. In addition, the message being sent is referred to as a transaction since it has feedback too.

The various transactional models of communication are:

7. Barnlund’s Model Of Communication

Barnlund’s model is one of the most complex models of communication. This model sees communication as an interpersonal way of sending messages to each other. Moreover, it has several layers, and feedback is typically made immediately.

The primary components of this model of communication are:

Public / Private / Behavioral Cues > [Communicator (Encoder / Decoder) > Channel (Message) < Communicator (Encoder / Decoder)]

Here, we can see that the communicators (all of them being encoders and decoders) send messages to each other through a channel of communication. However, their communication is affected by public, private, and behavioral cues. 

This model can be used to describe face-to-face communication and meetings in detail.

Corporate instance: A Board meeting after the delivery of an esteemed project. Here, all participants encode respective project reports and decode others’ reports. They are using the common channel of speech.  

The public here is the client. Their purchase behavior also determines the performance of all individuals in the meeting room. 

8. Dance Helical Model Of Communication

The Dance Helical model of communication can be used to describe a very unconventional communication model. Here, the entire model can be picturized by using a conical or helical spiral that goes downwards.

This is a unique model that does not directly specify the communicators of messages. Here, the helical spiral represents the notion that communication is constantly evolving and is like a spiral. With every message being sent back and forth, our perception and knowledge of the topic change constantly. This influences the next message we send.

Corporate Instance: employees receive feedback after every project/tenure. This feedback is shared with everyone on the team. It may lose its real essence as it passes from one person to another.  

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Some questions and answers related to the various models of communication are:

What did we learn? 

All these eight models of communication have been developed over time to fully help us understand the communication process. These models have defined what communication is between individuals and between people in a group.

All eight models can be categorized under linear, interactive, and transactional models. Many of the models appear as updates to existing models of communication. With the only exception being the dance helical model of communication.

For more information on practices and models of communication, read the other posts here at Voice of Action!

More Resources:

• Importance Of Your Tone Of Voice In Communication
• What Is Linear Communication Model? Things You Need To Know About It
• What Is Horizontal Communication? How To Improve It?