Internal communication infographics from google drive

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/11Ldg6fuzkChcJf82JL43PPdGbUNY83-o?usp=drive_link

INTERNAL COMMUNICATION

What is internal communication? Internal communication it is the communication that happens within an organisation .Men and Bowen (2016) define internal communication as the strategic management of interacting and building relationships between employers and employees within the organisation which is very important in terms of encouraging engagement and a shared sense of purpose.

TYPES OF INTERNAL COMMUNICATION

Internal communication is divided in different segments which is downward communication which refers to a communication which start from the employers , leaders or supervisors to the employees or interns for example CEO MR Mabhena writes an email to Miss Mthembu his Personal Assistant (PA) stating that he will not be available for the meeting that will take place tomorrow. Secondly we have upward communication this is a form of communication which refers to a communication which starts from an employee or an intern to an employer ,leader or supervisor for example Miss Mthembu informs her supervisor that she will not be available for tomorrow's workshop .

Thirdly we have the horizontal Communication, this is a form of communication which takes place between two or more colleagues or co workers of the same level for example Thuli and Sphe from the PR department they brainstorm about their recent project . Fourthly we have diagonal communication which is the type of communication we use at Hillbrow radio , Diagonal communication refers to communication that takes place between different colleagues of different department on the same organisation for example a PR intern asks the finance manager who is in a higher position than her Mr. Mkhatswa about the budget for the upcoming event instead of of asking her mentor.

COMMUNICATION METHOD AND CHANNELS THAT ARE  USED AT HILLBROW RADIO.

At Hillbrow Radio, we use diagonal communication to help different people in the organization talk to each other even if they are in different departments or at different levels. This means that interns like me can speak directly to managers or staff from other teams without always going through our mentor or supervisor. It helps us work faster, solve problems quickly, and feel more connected as a team.

We mostly use WhatsApp and meetings online and offline as our communication channels. For example, the training director, Mr. Mlungisi Shoba, often sends us WhatsApp messages in the morning to tell us what we will be doing that day in terms of radio. Even though he is in a higher position, he speaks directly to us as interns. That is one example of diagonal communication—because he is not our direct supervisor, but he still communicates with us to give instructions.

Another example is when I, as an intern, go directly to the station manager to ask about the day’s program or to confirm something about an event. I don’t need to go through my mentor first—I can speak to him directly. This shows how diagonal communication allows people from different levels and departments to share information and work together.

During the planning of the Open Mic event, I had to call artists to confirm their attendance and remind them to send their music. After that, I reported the number of confirmed artists directly to Mr. Steve. Even though I’m an intern and he’s the manager, we communicated directly to make sure the event was well-organized. That’s another example of diagonal communication.

Every morning at Hillbrow Radio, we have a short meeting called a morning hurdle. This is where the team gathers to talk about the plans for the day. During these meetings, Mr. Mlungisi Shoba, who is the training director, tells us which school we will be visiting for the school tour. He gives us all the important details, like the name of the school, the time we need to be there, and what we will be doing during the visit.

For example, one morning he told us that we were going to a school in Hillbrow to promote the Miss Hillbrow beauty pageant. He explained that our goal was to speak to learners from Grade 7 to Grade 12, encourage them to join the pageant, and answer any questions they might have.

These morning hurdles help us stay organized and know exactly what is expected of us. Even though Mr. Mlungisi is in a senior position, he speaks directly to us as interns. This is a good example of diagonal communication, because it shows how people from different levels in the organization can talk to each other clearly and respectfully. 

Using diagonal communication at Hillbrow Radio helps us work better as a team. It allows interns to take responsibility, ask questions, and share ideas with people in leadership positions. It also helps managers get quick updates and feedback without waiting for formal reports. This kind of communication makes the organisation more flexible, open, and efficient.

MY ROLE 

• My role was to design the suggestion box since the was no suggestion box when we arrived and I suggested that we have a suggestion box because we are not the same some of the intern they are very shy and cant address their concerns physically to the station manager so a suggestion box helped those individuals and that initiative improved internal communication between us as the interns and our station manager and fellow colleagues.

REFLECTION  (KOLB'S THEORY OF REFLECTION)

Using Kolb’s reflection cycle, I will explain what I did, how I felt, what I learned, and what I will do better next time.

Concrete Experience

Concrete experience is the first stage in Kolb’s Experiential Learning Cycle, where learning begins through direct involvement in a real situation.  .Kolb (2015) states that concrete experience is the stage where learners engage directly with tasks or events. McLeod (2025) highlights that this stage is essential for emotional and practical engagement in the learning process .The next paragraph will explain what i did

During my internship at Hillbrow Radio, I experienced diagonal communication, which means people from different departments and levels in the organisation talk directly to each other. For example, every morning we had a short meeting called a morning hurdle, where Mr. Mlungisi Shoba, the training director, told us which school we would be visiting for the Miss Hillbrow school tour. Even though he is in a senior position and not our direct supervisor, he spoke directly to us as interns. We also used WhatsApp both online and offline to receive updates and instructions from him about our daily radio tasks.

Another example is when I, as an intern, spoke directly to Mr. Steve, the station manager, to ask about the day’s program or confirm details for an event. I didn’t have to go through my mentor first. This kind of communication helped us work faster and made it easier to solve problems. During the planning of the Open Mic event, I called artists to confirm their attendance and then reported the final list directly to Mr. Steve. These experiences showed me how diagonal communication helps people from different levels and departments work together smoothly.

Reflective Observation 

Reflective observation is the second stage in Kolb’s Experiential Learning Cycle, where you take time to think about what happened, how it made you feel, and what you noticed during the experience.  Kolb (2015) explains that reflective observation involves reviewing and thinking deeply about an experience from multiple angles. McLeod (2025) highlights that this stage helps learners develop insight by analysing their actions and feelings. The next paragraph will state how I felt .

At first, I felt nervous and shy speaking directly to people in leadership positions. I wasn’t sure if I was allowed to do that or if I would say the wrong thing. But over time, I started to feel more confident. I noticed that diagonal communication made the team feel more connected and helped us get things done quickly. I also saw that the managers were open and respectful when speaking to interns, which made me feel valued. These experiences helped me understand that communication is not just about giving orders ,it’s about building trust and working together.

 Abstract Conceptualisation 

Abstract conceptualisation is the third stage in Kolb’s Experiential Learning Cycle, where you begin to make sense of your experience by forming ideas, theories, or general principles. It’s about thinking deeply and logically—turning what you’ve done and reflected on into structured knowledge that can guide future actions. Kolb (2015) describes abstract conceptualisation as the process of forming theories and ideas based on reflection.McLeod (2025) explains that this stage helps learners move from experience to structured understanding.The next paragraph will show you the concepts icame up with in this whole experience

I learned that diagonal communication is an important part of internal communication, especially in small organizations like Hillbrow Radio. It allows people from different departments and levels to share information directly. This saves time, improves teamwork, and helps everyone feel included. I also learned that diagonal communication is different from downward, upward, and horizontal communication because it cuts across both levels and departments. It’s a flexible and respectful way to work together.

Active Experimentation 

This is the last stage in Kolb's experiential learning cycle which refers to using the experience that you have to future events or situations. Kolb (2015) states that active experimentation is the stage where learners apply new ideas to future situations. McLeod (2025) highlights that this phase helps learners test and refine their understanding through practical action. The next paragraph state will explain more to you about how will i use this experience to my next workplace .

Next time I work in a team or start a new internship, I will be more confident when speaking to people in leadership positions. I will prepare what I want to say and use clear, respectful language. I will also encourage diagonal communication in my workplace, because I now understand how helpful it can be. I want to help build teams that are open, respectful, and efficient. I will use what I learned at Hillbrow Radio to become a better communicator and team member.

Conclusion

Reflecting on my experience at Hillbrow Radio through Kolb’s Experiential Learning Cycle has helped me understand the value of diagonal communication in a real workplace. By engaging directly with tasks and people in leadership positions, I moved from feeling nervous and unsure to becoming more confident and proactive. I learned that diagonal communication is not only efficient ,it also builds trust, encourages teamwork, and gives interns like me a voice in decision-making. Through reflection and analysis, I now understand how communication across departments and levels can strengthen relationships and improve performance. Moving forward, I will apply these lessons in future workplaces by communicating clearly, respectfully, and confidently with people at all levels. This experience has shown me that learning through action, reflection, and experimentation leads to personal growth and stronger professional skills. 

“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” — Søren Kierkegaard