BARRIERS TO

COMMUNICATION
 INTRODUCTION

 What is COMMUNICATION?
• Communication is a process by

which you convey your message to

someone or a group of people.

 What is a BARRIER?
• Any difficulty which partly

or fully prevent any activity is

called a barrier.
 PRIME TYPES
OF BARRIERS.
PhysicalBarrier.
Mechanical Barrier.
Mental Barrier.
Cross-Cultural Barrier.
Perceptional Barrier.
Interpersonal Barrier.
Gender Barrier.
 PHYSICAL
BARRIERS
 Types of Physical Barriers:

 Environmental Disturbances.
 Personal Health.
 Poor Hearing.
 Distance.
Poor Hearing
 PHYSICAL
BARRIERS
 Environmental Disturbances :
Traffic nuisances, loud speakers,
unwanted noise.

 Physical health: Ability to

receive when not well.
Chart showing different levels
 Poor hearing: Born deaf, lost of noise on decibel
scale
hearing due to accident, excess
use of earphones.
 PHYSICAL
BARRIERS
 Distance - Proxemics or choice of medium. Four
distinct zones that people unconsciously used as
they interact with others. The four zones may
vary greatly from culture to culture.
 18”<Intimate – Lovers, family, or close friends
 4’ <Personal – Talking at a party
 12’ <Social – Interpersonal business – clients.
 20’ <Public – Supervisor talking employees
 THE BARB WIRE
SEPARATING EXCHANGE
OF THOUGHTS
 MECHANICAL
BARRIERS
 We use different instruments and
machines for communicating
our messages. Very often
the selected medium itself
becomes a barrier.
 Absence of means of

communication.
 Faulty instruments. Defective Instruments

 Interruptions on radio and television.

 MECHANICAL
BARRIERS
 Types of Mechanical Barriers.

o Non availability of proper

machines.
o Presence of defective

machines.
o Interruption.
o Power failure. VHF Radio Vulnerable
to interruptions
 MENTAL
BARRIERS

 Poor pronunciation.
 Confused thinking.

 Communication overload.
 Unnecessary repetitions.

 Attitude creates social

Attitudinal barriers
evils. come about
as a result of problems
With a person
 RACISM &
CROSS CULTURAL
BARRIERS.
 Cultural – ethnic,
religious,
and social differences.
 Traditions barring

people of different
cultures from
mingling together. A picture portraying a
thought of united world
 Barriers to membership

of a group.
AS DETACHED, BLACKS AS
DEVIOUS, AGGRESSIVE,
IMPERSONAL, OVER-
CONDESCENDING, EMOTIONAL,
HYPOCRITICAL, ANGRY,
AVOIDING EYE CONFRONTATION
CONTACT, AND TOO AL, INTERRUPTIVE,
SILENT.. TOO PERSONAL
 PERCEPTIONAL
BARRIER
 Lack of common
experience.
 LINGUISTIC – Different

languages and vocabulary.

 Lack Of Knowledge

Of Any Language.
Different People around the
world speak
Different Languages
Word “WELCOME” in different
language.
 PERCEPTIONAL
BARRIER
Overuse of abstractions.

From The Receiver’s Side:

4.Interrupting the speaker.
5.Asking too many
questions, for the sake of
probing.

From The Sender’s Side: Improper use of abstractions

8.Unclear messages.
9.Incomplete sentences.
10.No clarifications.
 INTERPERSONAL
BARRIERS
Withdrawal – Absence of interpersonal contact.

Rituals – Meaningless, repetitive routines devoid

of real contact.

Pastimes – Activities that entertain us and keep

us engaged in our free times.
 GENDER BARRIER

 Women

Preferconversation for rapport building

Want empathy, not solutions
Are more likely to compliment
Emphasize politeness
More conciliatory
 GENDER BARRIER

 Men
 Talk as a means to preserve
independence and status by
displaying knowledge and skill
 Work out problems on an

individualized basis
 Are more directive in conversation
 Are more intimidating
 Call attention to their accomplishments
 Tend to dominate discussions during
meetings
GENDER BARRIER
 HOW TO
OVERCOME BARRIERS
 Learn to use feedback well.
 Be sensitive to receiver’s point of view.

 Listen to UNDERSTAND!

 Use direct, simple language, or at least

use language appropriate to the
receiver.
 Learn to use supportive communication,
not defensive communication.
 HOW TO
OVERCOME BARRIERS
Ten Rules for Good Listening

Rule Reasoning Behind the Rule

1. Stop talking You cannot listen if you are

talking.

2. Put the person at ease Help a person feel free to talk;

create a permissive environment.

3. Show the person you Look and act interested; listen to

want to listen understand, not to oppose.

4.Remove distractions Don’t doodle, tap, or shuffle

papers; shut the door if necessary
to achieve quiet.
 HOW TO
OVERCOME BARRIERS
Ten Rules for Good Listening

Rule Reasoning Behind the Rule

5. Empathize Try to see the other person’s

point of view.

6. Be patient Allow plenty of time; do not

interrupt; don’t start for the
door or walk away.

7. Hold your temper An angry person takes the wrong

meaning from words.
 HOW TO
OVERCOME BARRIERS
Ten Rules for Good Listening

Rule Reasoning Behind the Rule

8.Go easy on argument Don’t put people on the defensive

and criticism and cause them to “clam up” or
become angry; do not argue
even if you win, you lose.

9. Ask questions This encourages a person and

shows that you are listening; it
helps to develop points further.

10. Stop talking This is first and last, because all

other guides depend on it; you
cannot listen effectively while you
are talking.
 PREPARED BY
 IT08077 – Kamal Tanwar
(Group Leader).
 IT08076 – Bruno Nellissery.
 IT08080 – Rohit Singh.
 IT08075 – Bhagesh Khavshe.
 IT08040 – Viraj Shah.
---The End---