Barriers to Communication

​​Communication becomes successful only if receiver understands what sender is trying to convey.

Process of communication may be blocked due to various barriers generally classified as the following:

• Physical Barriers: a) Large working areas physically separated from others. E.g. walls, physical distance etc. b) Negative environment. E.g. Background noise.

• Psychological Barriers: Emotions such as hostility, tiredness, anger, lack of confidence etc.

• Linguistic Barriers: a) Communication failure in language. b)Mispronounced sounds, incorrect grammar, different accent, lack of clarity.

• Perceptual Barriers: Lack the perspective to see other’s point of view. This leads to debates.

• Cultural Barriers: Socio-cultural barriers and interaction with cross-cultural groups.

• Communication Barriers

​Filtering: The sender manipulates the information in such a way that it will be seen more favorably by the receiver. The more vertical level in the organization’s hierarchy, the more opportunities for filtering.

Noise: It means “ Interference that occurs in a signal and prevents you from hearing sounds properly.” The word 'noise' is also used to refer to all kinds of physical interference like illegible handwriting, smudged copies of duplicated typescript, poor telephone connections etc.

Semantic Problems: Semantics is the systematic study of meaning. Problems arising from expression or transmission of meaning in communication are called semantic problems.

Examples : Words like ‘Value’ i) What is the value of this ring?) (ii) What is the value of learning about communication?

Example:‘Cheap’ i) They gave us cheap stuff. ii) At this shop, they sell things cheap

Emotional Barriers: Both Encoding and Decoding of messages are influenced by our emotions. A message received when we are emotionally worked up will have a different meaning for us than we are calm and composed. The fear and mistrust that form the roots of our emotional barrier which stop us from communicating effectively with our co-workers.

Stereotyping: When we have preconceived ideas about other people and refuse to discriminate between individual behaviors. It causes people to act as if they already know the message that is coming from the sender. Tendency to attribute characteristics to an individual on the basis of an assessment of the group to which they belong.

Organizational Barrier: All organizations have communication policies which describes the protocol to be followed. It is the structure & complexity of this protocol that usually causes communication barriers. a) Too many Transfer Stations b) Fear of Superiors c) Negative Tendencies : Conflict of Ideas.

How to overcome barriers?

1) Overcoming Perceptional Barriers

2) Effective Listening

3) Create Synergistic Environment

4) Convey Emotional Contents of the Message

5) Use Appropriate Language

6) Use Proper Channel

7) Encourage Open Communication

8) Ensure Two – Way Communication

9) Best Use of Body Language

10) Have Clarity , Brevity and Accuracy

#communication