Operational communications can come in two forms: written or oral. The former is partly more popular with more advanced settings, while the latter is better reserved for more casual conversations or for things that will be put into writing later on—as keeping a record is paramount to any business operation.

The main idea behind effective communication in the workplace lies in how accessible all channels within a given company are. Not only must information be free to flow from top to bottom as is tradition, but it also must not encounter resistance when moving across departments, between functions, and even differing teams.

Proper policies should also be erected for this endeavor. And while things like email or instant messaging make things easier and more personal, the way these tools are used should also be taken into account. For example, enacting policies that encourage the reduction of unnecessary meetings, or policies that don’t allow for excessive personal communications within work hours, are paramount to ensuring the workplace remains a well-oiled machine.

In addition, people naturally tend to take the path of least resistance, and so it stands to reason that effective business communications should do the same. Unnecessary complexity and irrelevance may bring in unwanted side-effects such as confusion and general disengagement, which will definitely impact business operations negatively. That said, one of the best ways to ensure communications are effective is to make them simple, short, and easy.