In many workplaces, teams find it hard to stay connected across departments. Property managers need to coordinate with leasing and maintenance staff. Accountants must share updates with client service teams.

Real estate agencies depend on clear communication between marketing and sales. Without a direct way to share information, tasks get delayed, and confusion grows.

Horizontal communication helps by letting coworkers on the same level share updates and solve problems without going through managers. It keeps information moving between the right people at the right time. This article is about what horizontal communication is, how it works, and how it helps teams stay connected.

See our article “What is Multidirectional Communication?” to learn how open communication flows work inside growing teams.

What is Horizontal Communication?

Horizontal communication is the exchange of information between people or teams who are on the same level in a company. It does not go through managers or higher positions. It happens when departments or coworkers talk to each other to share information directly.

Characteristics of Horizontal Communication

1. Lateral Flow of Information

Lateral flow of information means that messages move between people or departments who are on the same level in a company. It does not go up to a manager or down to a junior employee. The information is shared directly between coworkers or teams with similar roles.

For example, in a real estate agency, a client service representative may coordinate directly with a listings coordinator to update property details. 

In a property management office, a facility worker might inform the leasing officer about completed maintenance. These exchanges happen between equals, not through supervisors.

2. Informal Nature

Informal nature means this communication often takes place in a quick and casual way. It might be a short chat, a message, or a shared document, rather than a formal report or scheduled meeting.

For instance, two accountants in the same firm might exchange client document notes over chat. 

In a property management setting, a front desk team member might quickly inform the billing staff about a tenant’s question. These small updates help avoid delays and keep operations moving smoothly.

3. Peer-to-Peer Interaction

Peer-to-peer interaction means coworkers on the same level talk directly to each other. They don’t need permission or instructions from a higher authority to communicate.

For example, two property managers working on different buildings might coordinate on vendor scheduling. Or, two real estate agents may share updates about open house visits. Since they have similar roles, they can understand each other’s needs and work more efficiently together.

Types of Horizontal Communication

Intradepartmental Communication

Intradepartmental communication happens when people working in the same department share information with each other. These people do similar work and are on the same level in the team. This helps them stay updated and complete their tasks without delay.

For example, in a property management department, the front desk staff and the leasing assistant may discuss tenant move-in dates. In an accountancy firm, two junior accountants may share notes about a client’s tax records. These exchanges keep everyone in the same department on the same page.

Interdepartmental Communication

Interdepartmental communication means that people from different departments talk to each other. Even though they are not on the same team, they are on the same level in the company. This helps them work together when their tasks are connected.

For example, someone from the client services department in a real estate agency may speak with someone in the marketing team to prepare a property listing. In a property firm, the finance and maintenance teams may talk to track repair costs. These conversations help different departments finish shared work more easily.

Staff Advice to Line Departments

This type of communication happens when a staff unit gives advice to a line department. Staff units provide support or expert help. Line departments do the main work, like property handling or client contact. Both are on the same level, but one guides the other.

For example, a legal team in a property company may advise the rental team about new lease terms. In an accountancy firm, the IT staff may guide the finance department on how to safely store client records. This type of communication helps keep work correct and secure.

Benefits of Horizontal Communication

Enhances Collaboration and Teamwork

Horizontal communication helps coworkers share information and work together more easily. When people on the same level talk directly, they can understand each other’s tasks and solve shared problems faster.

For example, in a real estate agency, an agent can work with a designer to prepare a listing without waiting for manager approval. This kind of direct contact helps both teams do their part on time and with better results.

Improves Problem-Solving and Decision-Making

When different departments share updates directly, they can find problems early and fix them together. This helps avoid mistakes and delays that happen when teams work alone.

For example, in a property management company, the finance team can talk to the operations team if there is a mismatch in maintenance costs. Quick sharing of facts helps everyone make better choices without confusion.

Increases Employee Engagement and Morale

When coworkers talk freely and share ideas, they feel more involved in their work. They do not have to wait for others to speak for them. This makes them feel heard and part of the team.

For example, in an accountancy firm, two junior staff members may suggest a new way to organize files. When their ideas are accepted and used, they feel more confident and motivated to do better work.

Builds Trust and Transparency

Horizontal communication allows coworkers to speak openly about tasks, issues, or updates. When people share clearly and listen to each other, trust grows between them.

For example, in a property office, if the leasing team shares repair timelines with the front desk staff, it avoids confusion with tenants. Everyone knows what is happening and can respond with the same information, which builds trust across the team.

Challenges of Horizontal Communication

Miscommunication Risks

Horizontal communication often happens quickly and informally. This can lead to missing details or unclear messages. When coworkers do not explain things fully or assume others already know, it can cause confusion and mistakes during work.

Territorial Behavior

Sometimes, people or departments do not want to share information with others at the same level. They may feel the need to protect their role or tasks. This behavior makes it hard for teams to work together and slows down shared projects.

Information Overload

When everyone can share messages freely, the amount of information can become too much. Staff may receive too many updates at once and miss important details. This overload makes it hard to focus and can lead to delays in work.

Strategies to Improve Horizontal Communication

Encourage Open Dialogue

Open dialogue means that coworkers feel free to speak, ask questions, and share ideas without fear. This helps teams understand each other better and fix problems early. When people know they can talk directly, they are more likely to work together and keep information clear.

Implement Collaborative Tools

Collaborative tools help teams share files, send messages, and stay updated in real time. These tools reduce delays and make it easier for people in different departments to stay connected. They also help avoid confusion by keeping all messages and documents in one place.

Provide Training and Workshops

Training and workshops help staff learn how to share information clearly and listen to others. This is useful when teams are large or spread across locations. Teaching people how to give updates, ask questions, and use the right methods of communication helps avoid mistakes and keeps work organized.

Use Osuria to Improve Effective Horizontal Communication

Osuria is a digital platform built for teams that need to work together on the same level. It helps people in property management, accountancy, and real estate share information, documents, and updates without going through many steps. Osuria focuses on making communication smooth between coworkers or departments that have equal roles but different tasks.

How Osuria Improves Horizontal Communication

• Secure File Sharing: Team members can upload and access important documents in one place. This helps coworkers from different departments share reports, forms, or records quickly without delays.

• Real-Time Communication Tools: Users can post announcements or start discussions based on topics. This keeps everyone informed without waiting for meetings or emails.

• White-Label Customization: Businesses can use their logo and domain. This makes the communication space feel like part of the company, which helps build a strong working environment among peers.

• Mobile Accessibility: Staff can send messages, view updates, or share documents through mobile apps. This supports direct communication even when team members are not in the office.

• Event Scheduling: Teams can plan meetings or site visits and notify others with reminders. This avoids missed updates and keeps horizontal teams working on the same timeline.

• Integration Capabilities: Osuria connects with other tools like document storage or client records. This allows coworkers to access shared systems without switching platforms.

• Advanced Security Measures: All shared information is protected with strong security. This means that departments can trust each other with sensitive data during regular communication.

Osuria offers features that match the real needs of property managers, accountants, and agency staff. If your team needs a clear way to share files, plan work, and talk across departments, Osuria is a practical platform to consider. It is designed to help coworkers stay in sync without adding more tools or steps.

Conclusion

Horizontal communication helps coworkers on the same level share updates, solve problems, and stay aligned across departments. It reduces delays, avoids confusion, and builds trust between teams. 

When used correctly, it supports clear, peer-level communication that keeps daily work organized and efficient. By understanding its types, benefits, and challenges, teams can take simple steps to improve how they communicate and work together in one direction.

Osuria is built to support horizontal communication across property management, accountancy, real estate, and other collaborative fields. It brings teams together with tools that make real-time communication, file sharing, and scheduling easy for coworkers at the same level. This helps reduce back-and-forth delays and keeps departments connected without adding extra steps.

Create your free account and start building better horizontal communication today.

FAQ

1. What is horizontal communication?

Horizontal communication is when people on the same level in a company share information directly without going through managers.

2. What are the types of horizontal communication?

The types include intradepartmental communication between coworkers in the same team, interdepartmental communication between different departments, and staff giving advice to line departments.

3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of horizontal communication?

Advantages include better teamwork, faster updates, and fewer delays. Disadvantages include miscommunication, information overload, and reluctance to share. A tool like Osuria helps reduce these problems by organizing messages and files.

4. How does horizontal communication differ from vertical communication?

Horizontal communication happens between people on the same level, while vertical communication goes between higher and lower positions, like managers and staff.

5. What are some examples of horizontal communication in the workplace?

Examples include a leasing officer talking to a maintenance worker, two junior accountants reviewing a file, or a real estate agent and designer planning a listing. Osuria supports all these through real-time chat and file sharing.