Communication Barriers

Kamran Shabbir Preston University

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Communication

Communication is the passing of information and understanding from one person to another at the same level or at different levels.

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Communication

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The Communication Process

Medium transmits message Encode message

Sender
Form message

Receiver
Receive encoded message Decode message

Barriers
Decode feedback Receive feedback Medium transmits feedback
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Encode feedback

Form feedback

Types of communication barriers

Physical barriers Semantic Barriers Organizational Barriers Psychological Barriers Miscellaneous

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Physical barriers

Obstacle that prevents movement or the flow of message physically. Anything that impedes your progress or movement physically. For example Power off while working. Unwanted sound while meeting.

Network down while mailing

etc..

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Semantic Barriers

There is always a possibility of misunderstanding the feelings of the sender of the message or getting a wrong meaning to it. The words sign and figures used in communication are explained by the receiver in the light of the experience which creates doubtful situations. Badly expressed Message Symbols or words with different meanings Faulty Translations Unqualified Assumptions Technical jargon Body language and gesture decoding

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Organizational barriers
Organizational structure greatly affects the capability of the employees as far as the communication is concerned. Some major organizational hindrances in the way of communication are the following:

Organizational Policies Rules and regulations Status Complexity Organizational facilities

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Socio-psychological Barriers

Attitudes and opinions: We react favorably or are hostile according as the information is to our personal advantage or not.

Emotions: We can neither transmit things correctly nor receive if our mind is agitated.
Closed mind: We hold our opinion so rigidly that we just refuse to listen. Status-consciousness: We are over-conscious of our lower or higher rank and do not express ourselves candidly. The source of communication: We react according to the trust we repose in the source from which the communication originates.

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Inattentiveness: Unconsciously we become inattentive if the communication contains a new idea and our mind refuses to respond to it. Faulty transmission: Part of the message is lost in transmission. Poor retention: Oral messages in particular are lost due to poor human retention. Unsolicited communication: We are unresponsive if the communication is unsolicited.

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CULTURAL BARRIERS
There are some issues that can separate one person from another and can create barrier between them.

Age Religion Education Gender Social status, standards Economic position Cultural background Health Beauty Popularity, priority Political belief Ethics, values, motives Rules/regulations
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GENDER BARRIERS:-

There are distinct differences between the speech patterns of man and those in women.

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Conclusion

The above mentioned barriers to effective communication are considered as filters of communications. You can overcome the barriers to communication through the following measures:Learn to use feedback well. Be sensitive to receivers point of view. Use direct, simple language which is appropriate to the receiver. Use proper channel. Learn to use supportive communication, not defensive communication. Make the organizational structure more flexible, dynamic and transparent. Allow employees access to resources, self expression and idea generation. Maintain eye contact with the speaker and make him comfortable.

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References:

Singla,R.K. (2009). Business Studies. New Delhi, V.K.Enterprises.

Sinha,K.K. (2003). Business Communication (2nd edition). New Delhi, Galgotia Publishing Company.
Owens, R. (1991). Organizational behavior in education (6th ed.). Portland, OR: Alyn & Bacon.

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