Barriers To Effective of Communication Skills

Barriers to Effective of Communication Skills
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
"We all use language to communicate, to express ourselves, to get our ideas across, and to
connect with the person to whom we are speaking. When a relationship is working, the act of
communicating seems to flow relatively effortlessly. When a relationship is deteriorating, the act
of communicating can be as frustrating as climbing a hill of sand."
- Chip Rose, attorney and mediator
Many people think that communicating is easy.
It is after all something we've done all our lives.
There is some truth in this simplistic view.
Communicating is straightforward.
What makes it complex, difficult, and frustrating are the barriers we put in the way.
Definition
Communication is the key factor in the success of any organization. When it comes to effective communication, there
are certain barriers that every organization faces. People often feel that communication is as easy and simple as it
sounds. No doubt, but what makes it complex, difficult and frustrating are the barriers that come in its way.
Here are a few of the most commonly-found barriers in communication in an organization:
1. Perceptual Barriers or Environmental Barriers: The most common problem faced these days is that of
the difference in opinion between two people. The varied perceptions of every individual give rise to a need
for effective communication.
? Noisy transmission (unreliable messages, inconsistency)

? The different media (machines or instruments) used for communication, very often becomes the barrier.
Non-availability of proper machines or presence of defective machines.
? Wrong channels or medium
2. Emotional Barriers: Another main barrier is the fear and mistrust that form the roots of our emotional
barrier which stop us from communicating effectively with our co-workers.
3. Language Barriers or Semantic Barriers: Language that describes what we would want to express and
communicate to others, may at times, serve as a barrier to them. In today’s global scenario, the greatest
compliment we can pay to another person is by speaking and effectively communicating to them in their
local language. We need to understand that the native language of employees can be different from anyone
else’s.
The linguistic differences also lead to communication breakdown. Same word may mean different to different
individuals. For example: consider a word “value”.
What is the value of this Laptop?
I value our relation?
What is the value of learning technical skills?
“Value” means different in different sentences. Communication breakdown occurs if there is wrong perception by the
receiver.
? Misreading of body language, tone and other non-verbal forms of communication

? Receiver distortion: selective hearing, ignoring non-verbal cues .
? Voice control - Pitch, modulation of voice helps in making communication effective.
? Communicators thinking should be clear.
4. Cross-Cultural Barriers: The world is made up of diverse cultures. A cultural barrier arises when two
individuals in an organization belong to different religions, states or countries.
? Values, Attitudes and Opinions

• Pre-conceived notions : We judge people before they speak by allowing our opinions and ideas of them
come in the way of trying to know what the speaker is saying.
• Assumptions –i.e. assuming others see situation same as you, has same feelings as you
• Status effects : power struggles
5. Physical Barriers or Environmental Barriers: Research shows that one of the key factors in building
strong and integrated teams is proximity. Most offices have closed doors and cabins for those at higher
levels of the organizational ladder while the large working areas are physically placed far apart. This kind of
barrier forbids team members from effective interaction with each another.
? Environmental Disturbances like traffic noise, loud sound, passing train etc.
? Time and Distance
? Personal Problems of health
? Poor hearing ( due to defective hearing)
? Poor presentation due to speech defects like stammering, lisping etc.
? Poor verbal skills
The only way one can improve effective organizational communication is by changing one’s thoughts and feelings
with one’s colleague. In this way, we don’t just break down communication barriers, but also build relationships that
work successfully for long.
If every individual in an organization takes personal responsibility to make sure he works in complete effectiveness
with his or her co-worker, no matter how many barriers come in the way, a responsible employee will always know
how to overcome them.
Do share your thoughts on the same.
Solutions to overcome the barriers to effective communication?
To communicate effectively one need to overcome these barriers. Working on breaking the barrier is a broad-brush
activity and here are certain measures.
DO'S FOR BREAKING THE BARRIER:
- Allow employees access to resources, self expression and idea generation.

- Express your expectations to others.
- Use less of absolute words such as "never", "always", "forever", etc.
- Be a good, attentive and active listener.
- Filter the information correctly before passing on to someone else.
- Try to establish one communication channel and eliminate the intermediaries.
- Use specific and accurate words which audiences can easily understand.
- Try and view the situations through the eyes of the speaker.
- The "you" attitude must be used on all occasions.
- Maintain eye contact with the speaker and make him comfortable.
- Write the instructions if the information is very detailed or complicated.
- Oral communication must be clear and not heavily accented.
- Avoid miscommunication of words and semantic noise.
- Ask for clarifications, repetition where necessary.
- Make the organizational structure more flexible, dynamic and transparent.
- Foster congenial relationship which strengths coordination between superior and subordinate.
- Focus on purposeful and well focused communication.
- The message of communication should be clear and practical.
- Get Proper Feedback.
DONT'S FOR BREAKING THE BARRIER:
- Be a Selective Listener, this is when a person hears another but selects not to hear what is being said by choice or
desire to hear some other message.
- Be a "Fixer", a fixer is a person that tries to find other person's fault.
- Be a daydreamer.
- Use long chain of command for communication.
- Use too many technical jargons.
- Jump to conclusions immediately.
- Interrupt the speakers and distract him by asking too many irrelevant questions.
Action to be taken to overcome barriers of effective communication –
Sender
WHO : To whom should the message go ?
WHY : Why am I communicating ? what are my motives ?
WHAT : Decide what to communicate. Be clear about what you need to communicate.
WHEN : Choose the best time for optimum reception.
HOW : Use language the receiver will understand and which unambiguous.
WHERE : Choose a location which will not interfere with the reception, understanding and acceptance of the
message.
Keep checking with the receiver.
Receiver
Be fully ATTENTIVE to sender
Listen ACTIVELY to the messages being sent.
ASK for clarifications, reception where necessary.
Keep checking with sender.
Together
Realize that misunderstandings are bound to occur, and be ALERT for all cues to this effect.
LISTEN, listen, listen, and listen again.
TEST your understanding of the message.
Share OPINIONS, feelings and perceptions generated by the message.

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Barriers to Effective of Communication Skills

- Chip Rose, attorney and mediator

Many people think that communicating is easy.

It is after all something we've done all our lives.

There is some truth in this simplistic view.

Here are a few of the most commonly-found barriers in communication in an organization:

? Noisy transmission (unreliable messages, inconsistency)

What is the value of this Laptop?

I value our relation?

What is the value of learning technical skills?

? Misreading of body language, tone and other non-verbal forms of communication

? Values, Attitudes and Opinions

Do share your thoughts on the same.

Solutions to overcome the barriers to effective communication?

DO'S FOR BREAKING THE BARRIER:

- Allow employees access to resources, self expression and idea generation.

DONT'S FOR BREAKING THE BARRIER:

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