Communication Log – Important Guidelines & Free Templates

We have created these 10 Free Communication Log Templates in MS Word to assist our website visitors in creating their own Communication Log quickly.

Whether we talk about a company that offers products or an organization that presents services for clients and customers, communication is the key to success. Communication is so important for the organization’s success that global companies usually hire professional communication experts to handle all mediums of communication. These professionals teach employees how to communicate with each other to eliminate miscommunication as well as handle outside stakeholders i.e. vendors and clients to understand what they want to expect.

A very common document that is filled for recording each communication activity is known as a communication log. This sheet records all of the details of each communication activity i.e. date, time, type of communication, details of the involved parties, duration of the communication, and details of the agenda(s) discussed during the meeting.

Importance of using a Communication Log:

A communication log is something that can be used in almost all fields of work. As a result, there are various formats and types of communication log sheets available for personal and office use. Each of these sheets has its benefits and importance. For instance, when we talk about project communication logs, it’s a must-have document in project management. Project managers and team members use this log sheet to record their communication with each other and with the client. This helps especially in case there is a conflict where the client was expecting something else while the project team followed another path. By reviewing the communication log, the team manager can check where the miscommunication occurred and who is responsible for the problem.

Organizations especially small companies and startup businesses use communication logs to control their expenses. Being a business owner, you know how important it is to have effective means of communication among your employees but it doesn’t give them the right to make personal calls from the office phone. By keeping a communication log and asking employees to fill it out after each conversation they had on the phone, via email, or text, you can later check if there is any irrelevant conversation that could be avoided in the future to save resources. On the other hand, this will also make the employees use company resources efficiently.

Communication logs are also used in corporations when important decisions and policies are implemented. It is possible that when a company changes its direction or new objectives are set, the instructions are not passed down the hierarchy and in the future, it can create certain issues and problems. To ensure that each policy and change is effectively understood by all levels of employees, communication logs are filled. These are used by supervisors and managers who instruct their subordinates about a certain change in the workplace.

Download Free Communication Log Templates:

Here are previews and download links for these Free Communication Log Templates,

 

Guidelines to create a Communication Log:

1. Understand the purpose of the communication log:
   As discussed above, there are various types of communication logs available and each is used in particular situations. Before you create a communication log, you should understand why you need this and what details should it hold. A communication log sheet for project execution is different from a workplace communication log.
2. Use a readymade template or create a log yourself:
   The next step is to decide if you want to create a communication log sheet yourself or you can also use a readymade template. Readymade templates of communication logs are available online and most of these are free of cost. But the problem is that you can’t make specific changes in the templates. If no template fulfills your requirements, you should create the log yourself.
3. Add the particular details that are important for you:
   You should make a list of all the important features and elements that you want to see in the communication log. For instance, you will use the log for office purposes, and in that case, your communication sheet should include the date, time, medium of communication, involved employees, duration of the conversation, and its purpose. These are just a few examples of the elements that a communication log can include. This sheet can be created in MS Excel by adding columns and rows. Each column is for a specific item i.e. date, time, duration, etc and each row is used for new communication activity.