Grapevine Communication Meaning of Grapevine Communication and Its Relevance | HRMantra HR Software

Grapevine Communication Meaning of Grapevine Communication and Its Relevance | HRMantra HR Software

 7-9 minutes 

Grapevine communication is the informal and unofficial social exchange at work. The communication may be unstructured in nature and will have both negative and positive impacts on the culture of the workplace.

In this blog, we will explain to you in-depth:

• What is Grapevine Communication?
• Characteristics of Grapevine Communication
• Types of Grapevine Communication
• What Could Be the Potential Benefits and Drawbacks of Grapevine Communication?
• How is Grapevine Communication Different from Formal Communication Channels?
• What is the Most Common Basis for Grapevine Communication in Organizations?
• What are the Impacts of Grapevine Communication on a Working Environment in Terms of Culture and Relationships?
• Discuss How an Organization Can Effectively Manage or Utilize Grapevine Communication.

What is Grapevine Communication?

Grapevine communication meaning is based on the fact that it spreads across the workplace in all directions just like a grapevine. It is informal corporate communication, prevalent at all levels of organization, spreading the information related to new releases, mergers and acquisitions, appraisals, funding, and more.

Characteristics of Grapevine Communication

• Uncertainty and unreliability of communicated information
• Fast and clean channel to flow knowledge from top to bottom of the organization
• Informal and oral technique of communication, involves less time in dissemination
• Unsaid information is transmitted through grapevine
• Contradicted and distorted message is transferred

Types of Grapevine Communication

• Single Strand Chain: Point-to-point communication. In a single strand chain, information about any team member''s promotion transfers from one to another, and so forth. The longer the strand, the higher the probability of getting distorted information.
• Gossip Chain: Group Discussion. In a gossip chain, groups of employees showing mutual interest interact and share information.
• Probability Chain: Random Network. A probability chain is a network where individuals randomly share the ''similar'' message with each other, though the source differs.
• Cluster Chain: Selective Network. Cluster chain is a network where one employee disseminates a message to selected individuals, and the same information is further passed to selected employees.

What are the Potential Advantages and Disadvantages Associated with Grapevine Communication?

Advantages of Grapevine Communication

• Informal
• Flexible
• Spontaneous
• Non-hierarchical
• Strengthens workplace friendships
• Better communication and collaboration

Disadvantages of Grapevine Communication

• Misleading information (Rumors, gossips, false stories)
• Difficulty in management
• No formal records
• No trackable original source
• Unrestricted communication

How Does Grapevine Communication Differ from Formal Communication Channels?

What are the Common Reasons for Existence of Grapevine Communication in Organizations?

Common reasons for grapevine communication could include:

• Presence of informal and peer groups
• People having talkative and gossiping attitudes
• Misleading employees
• Vulnerability and uncertainty
• Urge to express every emotion and opinion
• Culture of the organization

How Does Grapevine Communication Impact Workplace Culture and Relationships?

It has both positive and negative impacts on workplace culture and relationships. Let''s understand pointers by pointers:

• Makes employees more aware of the organizational culture and helps them decide what, how, and why to behave in a certain way
• It builds a sense of belongingness among employees and helps them work as a team
• Gives course to employees'' emotions and avoids boiling up, leading to a more positive work environment
• Creates an atmosphere of fear as employees always feel like somebody is talking behind their back, leading to a toxic culture
• Spreads negativity as many times employees distort or share corrupted information with their peers, adding humiliation to the workplace

How Can Organizations Manage or Harness Grapevine Communication Effectively?

More negative than positive impacts of grapevine communication are found on organization and its culture. So HR professionals must take steps to manage this informal communication:

• Keep Your Employees ''Formally'' Informed: Strengthen the network of formal communication and keep your employees informed of every necessary happening, policies, and regulations of the organization. If the communication network is strong and employees start feeling that they are well-informed, then their indulgence in grapevine communication will be less and the information will remain relevant and non-distorted. As an HR professional, you must address the information needs of your employees and frequently have face-to-face conversations with them to confirm whether they are feeling informed or not.
• Authentic Leadership for Trust Among Employees: The AMA found that 47% of people would place more credence in a speech from a company leader or in a message heard over the grapevine. Conversely, when asked whether they would believe a message delivered over the grapevine or what they hear directly from their direct supervisor, 74% chose their supervisor. This study indicates that leaders or people in authoritative positions must build trust among their employees to avoid grapevine communication. Having an approachable, authentic voice leads to trusting relationships where people seek feedback, give suggestions, and are mentors or coaches rather than commanders all the time.
• Routinely Engaging in One-on-One Conversations: Employee engagement is the only way to reduce the scope of grapevine communication at your workplace. One of the most prominent exercises under employee engagement is one-to-one conversations with employees by allocating time for them beforehand so that they can be prepared for the conversation. Announcements can result in less consumption rate compared to internal communication emails or newsletters. Creating a feeling of value and refraining from minimizing grapevine communication can contribute to reducing grapevine with employees.

Summing Up

Grapevine communication can either positively or negatively affect an organization. Ensure that, as an HR professional, you have an emotional and a technical approach to dealing with the emotions and experiences of your employees. Build up your strategy, seek feedback from employees, and get inspired by your leaders!

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