Advantages of Oral Communication
Oral communication provides a number of merits to its users. Now a day, managers extensively use oral communication in business. Studies show that managers tend to prefer oral communication largely because it is more informal. It is found that managers spend about 74 percent of their time in communication orally. Henry Mintzberg found that most managers spend 50 to 90 percent of their time talking to people. Some of the major advantages of oral Communication are cited below:
Saving time: Oral communication transmits messages instantly. In situations where action is required immediately, it is the best to transmit the message orally. Due to prompt delivery, oral communication can expedite the work.
Reducing cost: When oral communication is done within the organization by means of face-to-face conversation, it certainly saves costs. In such situations, it does not require to pay telephone bells and to buy paper, pen or other stationeries.
Persuasion: Oral communication is a powerful means of persuasion and control of employees. Therefore, executives usually prefer to transmit message orally.
Close contact: Oral communication facilitates close contact between the parties involved in communication process. Through it, they can effectively communicate their feelings, ideas, facts, and understanding. Thus, it helps to promote friendly relationship between the parties communicating with each other.
Quick and prompt transmission: Since oral communication is direct in nature, this method of communication ensures speedy and prompt transmission of message from the sender to the receiver.
Providing Clarification: In oral communication, the receiver can seek instant clarification of any fact or information provided by the speaker. As a result, communication becomes very effective.
Immediate feedback: In this communication, the sender can get feedback immediately and can further provide necessary facts and information to convey the message completely.
Appraisal of subordinates’ Action: It enables the superior to make a quick appraisal of subordinates’ action and reaction to any message transmitted. This helps to minimize conflict and misunderstanding in the organization.
Acting as a motivating factor: As the oral communication establishes a direct contact, it acts as a mechanism of motivating employees.
Communication with illiterate person: Oral communication is the best-suited method of communication with illiterate people. The illiterate people can neither read nor write. Therefore, oral communication is only the way to exchange information, ideas, feeling, opinions etc with them.
