Advantages and Disadvantages of Face to Face Communication

Advantages of Face to Face Communication

Importance of face to face communication are given in the diagram below.

Image credits © Manoj Patil.

Advantages of face to face communication over written communication are follows:

1. Effective communication
2. Instant feedback
3. Informal and direct
4. Confidential
5. Delicate situations
6. Useful for interviews

Advantages of face to face communication in business are.

1. Effective communication

Face to face communication is effective as it includes facial expressions also.

2. Instant feedback

Face to face communication gives instant feedback. Doubts and misunderstandings are cleared on the spot. So immediate feedback.

3. Informal and direct

Face to face communication is simple, direct and informal. The impact of face to face communication increases because of Participation and team spirit.

4. Confidential

In face to face communication, all secret and confidential matters are revealed to the trusted person privately.

5. Delicate situations

Face to face communication is very useful to handle delicate situations like strikes by employees, rivalries in groups, tensions in a family, etc.

6. Useful for interviews

Face to face communication is used to a good advantage in job interviews, general interviews of public figures and also for on-job-training.

Disadvantages of Face to Face Communication

Disadvantages of non face to face communication are given in the diagram below.

Image credits © Manoj Patil.

Disadvantages of face to face communication over written communication are follows:

1. Unsuitable for some people
2. Unsuitable for large audiences
3. Unsuitable for large organizations
4. Not accountable
5. Low legal and reference value
6. Poor retention by listener

Disadvantages of face to face communication in business are.

1. Unsuitable for some people

Face to face communication may not be suitable for people who are nervous or poor communicators.

2. Unsuitable for large audiences

Face to face communication is not possible to establish a proper rapport with a large group, through face to face communication.

3. Unsuitable for large organizations

Face to face communication is unsuitable for large organizations as they have branch offices located at different places and even in different countries.

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4. Not accountable

Face to face communication is difficult to hold someone responsible or accountable for something spoken face to face.

5. Low legal and reference value

Face to face communication is oral; no written records are kept so it cannot be quoted in the court of law.

6. Poor retention by listener

In face to face, the communicator can speak at the rate of 100 to 200 words per minute, while the listener's brain can process about 600 to 700 words per minute. The result is that the listener's mind wanders and he does not grasp all the message of speaker.