Grapevine communication is a type of informal communication that occurs in all workplaces. It describes the network of relationships among employees that spontaneously triggers and transports messages, rumours and news throughout an organization in an unstructured, unregulated manner. It occurs at both a personal and organizational level where employees interact informally to exchange information that is viewable to everyone else in their network.
The benefits of using grapevine communication are that new ideas can be shared quickly, allowing for faster response times when it comes to addressing important issues. However, there are downsides to it as well. There is no control over the flow of information or the accuracy of the facts being shared within this type of communication making it prone to misinterpretations and inaccurate interpretations. Additionally, with grapevine networks covering multiple layers, it can leave some individuals feeling left out or excluded by those higher up the ladder.
All employees need to be aware of grapevine communication networks as they can have a significant impact on the workplace dynamics within an organization. Employers need to understand how these networks function and be proactive in managing them so that issues are addressed as soon as possible and accurately.
Types of Grapevine Communication
Grapevine communication is often viewed as unreliable since it is not always accurate due to a lack of complete understanding or misinterpretations as it has been passed from one person to another. But it has been used in the past to unearth a wide array of stories, so it cannot be completely disregarded.
Formal grapevines occur when an individual passes along messages that are officially sanctioned by a formal body — such as management or an organization — so employees must carry out orders accurately and efficiently. This type of grapevine can be useful when trying to disseminate important news or information within an organization quickly and efficiently.
Informal grapevines involve casual conversations amongst colleagues or friends about various topics such as work experiences and personal lives. This type of communication provides a space for people to exchange ideas, and opinions, or even gossip about their work in an informal setting.
Benefits of Grapevine Communication
There are numerous benefits associated with grapevine communication, including improved morale and better relationships between people in the organization. It can also help to enhance the organizational culture by providing a neutral platform for sharing opinions and ideas. Not only that but it is also a low-cost communication solution as many organizations already have employees connected through some kind of personal relationship or social media page.
Additionally, grapevine communication can promote understanding and creativity within the organization. By providing an informal platform for ideas to be exchanged freely in a safe environment, this style of communication can help spark conversations between teams or departments that would not have happened otherwise. In turn, this leads to better collaboration and more effective problem-solving as well as a more productive work atmosphere overall.
Challenges Faced With Grapevine Communication
For starters, the reliability of passing information through the grapevine can be questionable as there is no guarantee that the details have been accurately or truthfully relayed through the chain. With each link in the chain providing its own interpretation and perspective on what has been said, this can lead to different interpretations and unreliable info being propagated throughout. Ambiguities in understanding can also come from an unclear network structure; with no official roles or responsibilities, who is passing on info and to whom?
Similarly, once the information begins travelling through a grapevine network, there is no control over what gets changed along the way. Forwards and edits could drastically alter whatever was originally said before it reaches its final recipient. This can increase miscommunication and misunderstanding as the context for what was initially said could be completely lost in translation.
Furthermore, gossip is an inherent danger when relying on grapevine communication. People sometimes intentionally distort information and report things they heard thirdhand as fact which can cause embarrassing issues if brought up inaccurately during official conversations. In addition, individuals may use grapevines out of context in order to spread personal opinions or private matters without considering how it affects those involved or how this kind of behaviour affects team dynamics negatively.
From a privacy perspective to there are implications as unauthorized individuals may find themselves privy to sensitive matters, they do not need to be aware of. Also, since emails are rarely sent within a grapevine network (which would allow for more formal tracking), it becomes much harder to monitor or even control what gets communicated.
