Hello! Can you hear me?

Communication involves an Emitter that send a Message, which cross Perceptual screens, to a Receiver that gives a Feedback to the Emitter. This process implies fundamental elements as language, data and information, and the success of it depends on the listening that the parts apply, in order to avoid misunderstandings or inaccuracies.

There are two types of communication, the one-way type in which one person send a message to another and this last one doesn’t reply with a feedback or any interaction; and the two-way type which represent an interaction between the emitter and the receiver. Although, the communication doesn’t just represent the interaction with words (Verbal), also means the non-verbal mode, which is divided in four basic types: Proxemics (Use of space), Kinesics (Body movements), Facial and Eye behavior, and the Paralanguage (Speech’s variations in tones and duration).

The communication presents barriers that obstacle it to flow normally as the physical separation, cultural differences, languages and generational differences. These issues have make the people to develop new ways of communicate between them, as was the creation of virtual groups in which people can work without being physically close and with the use of new technologies. These situations facilitate the cross-boundary collaboration and the work in companies with international surfaces.

Virtual teams represent one such organizational form, one that could revolutionize the workplace and provide organizations with unprecedented level of flexibility and responsiveness. But as a drawback, virtual teams are particularly vulnerable to mistrust, communication breakdowns, conflicts, and power struggles.