• Customer Experience

6 Barriers to Effective Communication in the Workplace

barriers to effective communication essay

In business, even a single miscommunication can result in a massive setback. Missed deadlines, lost opportunities, wasted time and money, employee and customer churn—these are just a few of the possible outcomes of poor internal communication. 

Often, these miscommunications are not isolated incidents. Instead, they are symptoms of more serious barriers that may be affecting your entire organization:

  • Language barriers
  • Cultural barriers
  • Physical barriers
  • Psychological barriers
  • Technological barriers
  • Organizational barriers

Let’s discuss how to recognize (and address) each communication barrier above, and what to do if your organization is contending with multiple simultaneous barriers.

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Communication barriers: What they are and how to eliminate them

Let’s examine each of the major barriers to effective communication—what they are, what they look like in practice, and ways to overcome them.

1 Language barriers

Language barriers involve miscommunications related to vernacular differences or translation difficulties.

Even when speaking the same language, dialects, accents, and unique communication quirks can all result in misunderstandings and other unintended consequences. 

Likewise, people in the same organization may struggle with differences in vocabulary. If you’ve ever been asked if you have the bandwidth to think outside the box, can step up to the plate and swing for the fences, synergize efforts to pick the low-hanging fruit, or disrupt the conversation, you may be familiar with this frustration.

What to watch for: Frequent misunderstandings, complaints about lack of clarity, or disagreements that revolve around multiple interpretations of the same message.

Here are some ways you could address language barriers to communication: 

  • Encourage team members to use clear, concise language and avoid figurative language, jargon, and slang.
  • Illustrate important points in critical documents and presentations with visual elements.
  • Provide adequate training and educational resources around industry-specific terminology and branded terms.
  • Offer continuing education benefits that could cover language courses for multilingual speakers.
  • Give your team an advantage with a writing assistant like Grammarly Business , which can help primary and secondary English speakers alike improve their writing’s fluency .

2 Cultural barriers

Cultural barriers to communication stem from differences in social norms and values.

It’s important to be aware of ethnocentricity, or the assumption that all cultures share your values, beliefs, and lifestyle. Addressing ethnocentrism and emphasizing inclusion in your company culture will help team members feel valued and included, regardless of their background. Externally, you can educate your team on how to avoid business etiquette missteps in other cultures.

What to watch for: Stereotyping, ostracization, or other ethnocentric behaviors (or complaints about such behaviors), and team members avoiding each other.

To address cultural barriers to communication in the workplace, try the following:

  • Implement regular sensitivity training sessions, paired with one-on-one meetings as needed to address any ongoing concerns.
  • Establish clear rules around workplace etiquette and your brand culture, but stay open to revising those rules as your team—and the brand—evolves.
  • Clarify and emphasize your brand’s values, why they matter, and how employees can exemplify those values. By creating a culture that emphasizes a shared set of values, you’ll foster a sense of belonging and break down cultural barriers.
  • Create and share a brand style guide that includes rules and expectations around internal communication and etiquette.

3 Physical barriers

Distance is the most common physical barrier. As remote work becomes increasingly common, team members may find themselves sitting hundreds or even thousands of miles away from their colleagues. Without strong systems in place to keep them connected, they will struggle to communicate effectively. 

What to watch for: Excessive tardiness (especially in multiple employees) related to demotivation, or distraction with physical causes (such as noise or discomfort). Complaints about difficulty concentrating or completing work.

Here are some ways to address physical barriers to communication in the workplace:

  • Adopt and maintain up-to-date telecommunication technologies and consider allowing employees to work remotely if needed.
  • Provide a comfortable, collaborative office with a minimum of external noise.
  • Add private, closed office spaces for employees to collaborate or work without interruptions .
  • Seat employees who work closely together in the same area. 

4 Psychological barriers

Psychological barriers are caused by individual mindsets or mental health concerns.

Although disagreements are inevitable in most workplaces, sometimes these conflicts can cause serious problems. When employees with contrasting viewpoints and priorities also have clashing communication styles , their conflicts can negatively impact the whole team.

A lack of trust is a common psychological barrier that can make communication extremely difficult.

When employees feel unheard, unsupported, or undervalued, they will struggle to excel.

What to watch for: A lack of employee feedback or engagement, absenteeism, or a lack of collaboration between team members or teams.

Here are some ways to address psychological barriers to communication:

  • Offer training and resources about understanding various business communication styles.
  • Implement mandatory workplace anti-harassment training.
  • Foster trust and solidarity by enlisting employees to offer suggestions for team-building exercises or events.
  • Encourage open, honest communication by offering multiple channels for employee feedback, such as open office hours, anonymous surveys, and team meetings.

5 Technological barriers

Technological barriers to communication emerge when people don’t have the right tools or right training to use them. 

There are three essential things your team needs to function effectively: up-to-date hardware, the right business communication tools, systems for their duties, and training in how to use these technologies effectively.

What to watch for: Frequent technological failures (such as computer crashes or poor internet connectivity), complaints about slow or poorly performing platforms, and misuse of technology rooted in a lack of understanding.

Here are some ways to address technological barriers to communication in the workplace:

  • Upgrade or replace technology as necessary.
  • Offer training and resources as necessary to educate employees on how to use newly upgraded or adopted technologies.
  • Use communication tools with many functions that will easily fit into your brand’s existing structure and workflows.
  • Develop rules around how and when to use specific communications channels in your brand style guide .

6 Organizational barriers

Organizational barriers to communication stem from a lack of understanding of your business structure and individual roles within it.

Organizational barriers can affect businesses of all sizes, and they often occur because employees are unaware of, or do not fully understand, an existing structure. Employees may not know how to share or request information. Communication silos and bottlenecks, meanwhile, are common symptoms of a structure that may need to be reorganized or clarified. 

What to watch for: Team members frequently contacting the wrong individuals for specific information or insights and vital information being lost or delayed somewhere along the chain of command.

Here are some ways to address organizational barriers to communication in the workplace:

  • Create a clear organizational structure (including roles and contact information) and ensure that it is widely available, easily accessible, and included in new-hire orientations.
  • Review any changes to structure or expectations around communication promptly, both in writing and in person.
  • Conduct regular audits and revising the structure as your organization evolves.

Overcoming multiple communication barriers

While there may be one barrier to effective communication that stands out at your organization, it will likely not be the only one. After all, not only are these barriers common, but also they tend to overlap—someone who is physically far from the rest of their team, for example, may experience depression or anxiety as a result.

Addressing one barrier is effective in the short term if a particular barrier has become a critical concern. However, solutions that can tackle multiple barriers are ideal for long-term success.

A multifunctional communication assistant like Grammarly, for example, can help your organization:

  • Overcome language and cultural barriers by preventing misunderstandings related to spelling or grammar mistakes, potentially confusing phrases, and convoluted structure.
  • Overcome psychological barriers by using an automated tone detector to analyze and adjust the tone of written communications to align with various communication styles.
  • Overcome any number of other barriers with up to 50 customizable company style guides , against which any written document can be checked instantly.

Grammarly also integrates with a variety of programs, making it easy to implement and simplifying collaboration across many communication platforms. 

Barriers to effective communication in the workplace can create a significant negative ripple effect that will only intensify the longer these barriers are left unchecked. Addressing them today will not only improve your internal communications now; it will also prevent issues in the future. The sooner it is addressed, the better.

Grammarly is a cutting-edge digital communication assistant that can help your organization overcome a wide variety of barriers to effective communication. Contact us to get Grammarly Business for your team today.

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Essay on Barriers To Effective Communication

Students are often asked to write an essay on Barriers To Effective Communication in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Barriers To Effective Communication

Introduction.

Communication is a key part of our lives. It’s how we share ideas, feelings, and information. But sometimes, things can get in the way of clear communication. These obstacles are called barriers to effective communication.

Physical Barriers

Physical barriers are things like distance, noise, or poor technology. If you’re trying to talk to someone far away, or in a loud place, it can be hard to hear and understand them. Bad phone or internet connection can also make communication difficult.

Language Barriers

Sometimes, people don’t speak the same language. This can make it hard to communicate. Even if you both speak the same language, different accents or use of slang can create misunderstandings.

Emotional Barriers

Emotions can also be a barrier. If someone is upset, angry, or scared, they might not be able to communicate clearly. They might also misunderstand what others are trying to say.

Cultural Barriers

Different cultures have different ways of communicating. What might be polite in one culture could be rude in another. These differences can lead to confusion and misunderstandings.

Recognizing these barriers is the first step to better communication. With understanding and patience, we can work to overcome these obstacles and communicate more effectively.

250 Words Essay on Barriers To Effective Communication

Understanding communication.

Communication is the process of sharing or exchanging information, ideas, or feelings. It plays a key role in our daily lives. But sometimes, we face problems in communicating effectively. These problems are known as barriers to effective communication.

Physical barriers are the first type of barriers. They include distance, noise, or any other physical hindrance that stops the message from being delivered or understood. For instance, a loud noise in the background can make it hard for someone to hear what another person is saying.

Language barriers happen when people speak different languages or use complex words that others cannot understand. If the receiver doesn’t understand the language or words used by the sender, the message will not be understood.

Emotional barriers occur when people’s feelings or emotions stop them from understanding the message. If a person is angry, upset, or stressed, they might not understand or interpret the message correctly.

Cultural barriers come into play when people from different cultures communicate. Different cultures have different ways of communicating, and this can lead to misunderstandings.

Overcoming Barriers

To overcome these barriers, we can use simple language, make sure the environment is suitable for communication, try to understand others’ feelings, and respect different cultures. By doing this, we can communicate more effectively.

In conclusion, understanding and overcoming these barriers can make our communication more effective. It helps us to share our ideas and feelings more clearly and makes our daily lives easier.

500 Words Essay on Barriers To Effective Communication

Communication is like a bridge that connects people. It allows us to share ideas, feelings, and information. But sometimes, this bridge can have problems. These problems are called barriers to effective communication.

Physical barriers are the first type of problem. These can be anything that stops the message from reaching the other person. For example, if you are trying to talk to someone in a noisy room, they might not hear you. This is a physical barrier. Other examples include distance, poor lighting, or bad signal on your phone.

The second type of barrier is language. If two people don’t speak the same language, they can’t understand each other. Even if they do speak the same language, they might use different words or phrases. This can cause confusion. For example, in English, the word “biscuit” means different things in the UK and the US.

Emotional barriers are the third type. These happen when feelings get in the way of communication. For example, if someone is angry, they might not listen to what you’re saying. Or if they’re scared, they might not speak up. Emotions can make it hard to send or receive messages clearly.

The fourth type of barrier is cultural. Different cultures have different ways of communicating. What is polite in one culture might be rude in another. For example, in some cultures, it’s rude to make eye contact. In others, it’s a sign of respect. These differences can cause misunderstandings.

Personal Barriers

The last type of barrier is personal. These are things like beliefs, attitudes, or prejudices. For example, if someone believes that all teenagers are lazy, they might not listen to a teenager’s ideas. This is a personal barrier.

In conclusion, effective communication can face many barriers. These include physical, language, emotional, cultural, and personal barriers. By understanding these, we can work to overcome them. This will help us to build stronger bridges of communication with others. This is important because good communication helps us to understand each other better. It helps us to solve problems, make decisions, and build relationships. So, let’s all try to break down these barriers and communicate more effectively.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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SkillsYouNeed

  • INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
  • Communication Skills
  • Barriers to Communication

Search SkillsYouNeed:

The SkillsYouNeed Guide to Interpersonal Skills

Introduction to Communication Skills - The Skills You Need Guide to Interpersonal Skills

Interpersonal Skills:

  • A - Z List of Interpersonal Skills
  • Interpersonal Skills Self-Assessment
  • What is Communication?
  • Interpersonal Communication Skills
  • Tips for Effective Interpersonal Communication
  • Principles of Communication

Barriers to Effective Communication

  • Avoiding Common Communication Mistakes
  • Social Skills
  • Getting Social Online
  • Giving and Receiving Feedback
  • Improving Communication
  • Interview Skills
  • Telephone Interviews
  • Interviewing Skills
  • Business Language Skills
  • The Ladder of Inference
  • Listening Skills
  • Top Tips for Effective Listening
  • The 10 Principles of Listening
  • Effective Listening Skills
  • Barriers to Effective Listening
  • Types of Listening
  • Active Listening
  • Mindful Listening
  • Empathic Listening
  • Listening Misconceptions
  • Non-Verbal Communication
  • Personal Appearance
  • Body Language
  • Non-Verbal Communication: Face and Voice
  • Verbal Communication
  • Effective Speaking
  • Conversational Skills
  • How to Keep a Conversation Flowing
  • Conversation Tips for Getting What You Want
  • Giving a Speech
  • Questioning Skills and Techniques
  • Types of Question
  • Clarification
  • Emotional Intelligence
  • Conflict Resolution and Mediation Skills
  • Customer Service Skills
  • Team-Working, Groups and Meetings
  • Decision-Making and Problem-Solving
  • Negotiation and Persuasion Skills
  • Personal and Romantic Relationship Skills

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There are many reasons why interpersonal communications may fail. In many communications, the message (what is said) may not be received exactly the way the sender intended. It is, therefore, important that the communicator seeks feedback to check that their message is clearly understood.

The skills of Active Listening , Clarification and Reflection may help but the skilled communicator also needs to be aware of the barriers to effective communication and how to avoid or overcome them.

There are many barriers to communication and these may occur at any stage in the communication process. Barriers may lead to your message becoming distorted and you therefore risk wasting both time and/or money by causing confusion and misunderstanding. 

Effective communication involves overcoming these barriers and conveying a clear and concise message. 

Common Barriers to Effective Communication:

The use of jargon. Over-complicated, unfamiliar and/or technical terms.

Emotional barriers and taboos. Some people may find it difficult to express their emotions and some topics may be completely 'off-limits' or taboo. Taboo or difficult topics may include, but are not limited to, politics, religion, disabilities (mental and physical), sexuality and sex, racism and any opinion that may be seen as unpopular.

Lack of attention, interest, distractions, or irrelevance to the receiver. (See our page Barriers to Effective Listening for more information).

Differences in perception and viewpoint.

Physical disabilities such as hearing problems or speech difficulties.

Physical barriers to non-verbal communication. Not being able to see the non-verbal cues, gestures, posture and general body language can make communication less effective. Phone calls, text messages and other communication methods that rely on technology are often less effective than face-to-face communication.

Language differences and the difficulty in understanding unfamiliar accents.

Expectations and prejudices which may lead to false assumptions or stereotyping .   People often hear what they expect to hear rather than what is actually said and jump to incorrect conclusions. Our page The Ladder of Inference explains this in more detail.

Cultural differences.   The norms of social interaction vary greatly in different cultures, as do the way in which emotions are expressed. For example, the concept of personal space varies between cultures and between different social settings. See our page on Intercultural Awareness for more information.

A skilled communicator must be aware of these barriers and try to reduce their impact by continually checking understanding and by offering appropriate feedback.

A Categorisation of Barriers to Communication

Language barriers.

Language and linguistic ability may act as a barrier to communication.

However, even when communicating in the same language, the terminology used in a message may act as a barrier if it is not fully understood by the receiver(s). For example, a message that includes a lot of specialist jargon and abbreviations will not be understood by a receiver who is not familiar with the terminology used.

Regional colloquialisms and expressions may be misinterpreted or even considered offensive. See our page: Effective Speaking for more information.

Psychological Barriers

The psychological state of the communicators will influence how the message is sent, received and perceived.

For example:

If someone is stressed they may be preoccupied by personal concerns and not as receptive to the message as if they were not stressed.

Stress management is an important personal skill that affects our interpersonal relationships. See our pages Stress: Symptoms and Triggers and Avoiding Stress for more information.

Anger  is another example of a psychological barrier to communication. When we are angry it is easy to say things that we may later regret, and also to misinterpret what others are saying.

See our pages: What is Anger? and Anger Management for more information.

More generally people with  low self-esteem  may be less assertive and therefore may not feel comfortable communicating - they may feel shy or embarrassed about saying how they really feel, or read unintended negative sub-texts in messages they hear.

Visit our pages on Improving Self-Esteem and Assertiveness for more information.

Physiological Barriers

Physiological barriers to communication may result from the receiver’s physical state.

For example, a receiver with reduced hearing may not fully grasp the content of a spoken conversation especially if there is significant background noise.

Physical Barriers

An example of a physical barrier to communication is geographic distance between the sender and receiver(s).

Communication is generally easier over shorter distances as more communication channels are available and less technology is required. The ideal communication is face-to-face.

Although modern technology often helps to reduce the impact of physical barriers, the advantages and disadvantages of each communication channel should be understood so that an appropriate channel can be used to overcome the physical barriers.

Systematic Barriers

Systematic barriers to communication may exist in structures and organisations where there are inefficient or inappropriate information systems and communication channels, or where there is a lack of understanding of the roles and responsibilities for communication. In such organisations, people may be unclear of their role in the communication process and therefore not know what is expected of them.

Attitudinal Barriers

Attitudinal barriers are behaviours or perceptions that prevent people from communicating effectively.

Attitudinal barriers to communication may result from personality conflicts, poor management, resistance to change or a lack of motivation . To be an effective receiver of messages you should attempt to overcome your own attitudinal barriers to to help ensure more effective communication.

Further Reading from Skills You Need

The Skills You Need Guide to Interpersonal Skills eBooks.

The Skills You Need Guide to Interpersonal Skills

Develop your interpersonal skills with our series of eBooks. Learn about and improve your communication skills, tackle conflict resolution, mediate in difficult situations, and develop your emotional intelligence.

To improve your overall communication skills you need to be aware of, and attempt to minimise, any barriers to communication that are present.

By developing your emotional intelligence you will become more aware of how to communicate with others in the most appropriate and effective ways.

Take our Interpersonal Skills Self-Assessment to find out your strengths and weakness.

Continue to: What is Communication? Avoiding Common Communication Mistakes

See also: Avoiding Common Communication Mistakes Communicating in Difficult Situations Dealing with Criticism

Module 14: Communication

Barriers to effective communication, what you’ll learn to do: explain barriers to effective communication.

Barriers to communication are things that get in the way of a message being received. They could be physical, such as loud music playing, or emotional, such as when a person is too angry or fearful to listen to what another individual is saying. Culture, language, and social status can also represent barriers to effective communication. Managers need to be aware of barriers and how to overcome them to improve the communication process.

Learning outcomes

  • Differentiate between filtering, selective perception, and information overload.
  • Differentiate between emotional disconnects, lack of source credibility, and semantics.
  • Explain active listening.

“I already talked to him about the schedule. Wasn’t he listening?” How often have you said words like these (or heard them said about a coworker)? Every time we talk or listen, there are things that get in the way of clear communication—things that interfere with the receiver getting the message from the sender. This interference is referred to as “noise,” and there are various types of noise that can cause a message to be misinterpreted.

Two men in an informal meeting, talking

Even though the setting is informal, can you identify some signs that indicate that good communication is taking place? Check your ideas with the author’s list at the end of this section.

Common sources of noise are explained in this section. How many of these examples can you remember affecting your conversations with friends, classmates, or coworkers?

Physical Conditions

Sometimes “noise” is just exactly that—loud or distracting sounds that make it impossible to hear or concentrate. Or the general level of background noise can be so intense that it is hard to focus for long on one particular voice. A room may be so hot or so cold that people can’t get comfortable and cannot pay attention. Outside activities may be a distraction to those with a view out windows. Finally, it may be lunchtime or too close to quitting time to keep people focused. Fortunately, with some awareness and advance planning, physical barriers to effective communication are some of the easiest to overcome.

Personal and particular experiences color how people view the world and how they communicate. A message sender sees the world through one set of filters (experiences and values) and the receiver sees it through a different set of filters. Each message has to pass, therefore, through at least two sets of filters. The more similar people are in lifestyle, experience, culture, and language, the more similar their mental filters are likely to be and the less distortion should occur. This is why people who come from very different social and economic situations than their audience must work extra hard to say exactly what they mean to avoid confusion. Also, the fewer people involved in the transmission of a message, the greater the chance that it will be received as the sender intended. In business, however, messages may be summarized by a manager and relayed through an administrative assistant who has clarified or edited the message. Messages exposed to many filters should be repeated in various ways to make sure they were understood as the sender intended.

Selective Perception

Selective perception is the tendency to either “under notice” or “over focus on” stimuli that cause emotional discomfort or contradict prior beliefs. For instance, some people live purposefully healthy lifestyles by frequently exercising and eating only nutritious food but still smoke cigarettes. Psychologists believe that they are selectively ignoring the evidence that smoking is dangerous to their health. They have chosen to disregard the information that would make them feel guilty or fearful about this habit. This is called perceptual defense . Selective perception can also be vigilant , meaning people are extra sensitive to things that are significant to them. If a manager doesn’t like a particular employee, for example, she may be super critical of that person’s behavior and notice every time he is a minute late to a meeting. On the other hand, a favorite employee coming late to work one morning might elicit concern that she had car trouble. Selective perception introduces bias into the communication process.

Information Overload

We have all been in situations when we felt that too much information was coming at us. When this happens, we feel overwhelmed and fear that we will not be able to retain any information at all. Sometimes it is not just the quantity of communication but the level that causes overload. If the message contains information that is new to the receiver, including processes or concepts that are not familiar, then the chances of overload increase greatly. The sender should break up the message into more palatable or digestible bits and reduce the amount of information that has to be absorbed at any one time. One technique is to make a high-level announcement and then follow it up later with more details. The sender has the primary responsibility to check that the receiver has understood the message. This means that a manager may have to adjust a message to reflect the various experiences of the employees. A new employee may need repeated explanations before beginning an operation, whereas an experienced employee may start rolling his eyes at the same old instructions.

Semantics is the study of the meaning of words and phrases. You might hear one person say to another “Let’s not argue semantics,” meaning he doesn’t want to get caught up in trivial and unimportant details or playing with words. But semantics is extremely important in effective communication. There are some semantic rules in English that may trip up non-native English speakers, such as the concept of subject-verb agreement and gender pronouns. These can cause confusion, as seen in the following examples:

  • Six man is coming to the meeting on Tuesday. (How many men are coming?)
  • Rachel is going to introduce the speaker at the conference. He may be asking you for information about her to make the job easier. (Who is asking for information, Rachel or the speaker?)

When your audience involves people whose native language is not English or individuals of different educational backgrounds, messages need to be direct and clearly stated to help ensure they are understood.

Denotation and Connotation

Confusion can also arise from the use of language by people from different educational levels, culture, and dialect. For instance, the terms lift and braces denote two entirely different meanings in the United States and in England. A Londoner might reasonably ask her partner if he was planning on wearing braces with his pants.

Some words have a connotation for one group of people that is not shared by another. “That’s sick!” could be a compliment or an insult, depending upon the listener. (You probably already know that slang does not belong in written business communications.) Fortunately for all of us, paying attention to the context of the message often reduces confusion. The meaning of homophones (buy, by, bye; meet, meat, mete; pair, pare, pear) and homographs (read, read; lead, lead) are often easily understood by their context or pronunciation.

Emotional Disconnects

Almost the first thing parents learns is never to try to have a rational discussion with a screaming toddler or an angry teenager. If they wait until the young person is more receptive to what they have to say, the odds of a successful conversation improve dramatically. Adults also experience emotional disconnects that affect the chance of successful communication. For example, when a person is feeling stressed or anxious, an expressed concern is more likely to be interpreted as criticism. Constructive criticism made while an employee is emotionally fragile may be perceived as a personal attack. If possible, it is better to postpone a communication if there is a strong likelihood that the intended receiver will misinterpret it because of his emotional state.

Credibility

A businesswoman holding a sign that reads “I am your boss!”

There are better ways to communicate your credibility than reminding everyone of your position.

In communication, the validity of the message is tied to the reputation of the sender. If the receiver doesn’t trust the sender, he will view the message itself with skepticism or suspicion. If the sender is trustworthy, the receiver will likely believe the message despite her personal opinions about that subject. In other words, the trustworthiness of a communication, regardless of format, is heavily influenced by the perceived credibility of the source of that communication.

Source credibility  describes the sender’s positive characteristics that affect the receiver’s acceptance of a message. A manager’s source credibility is based on experience, knowledge, and interpersonal skills. Managers who deal openly and candidly with employees will find it easier to solicit the kind of feedback that tells them whether their message has been understood.

Practice Questions

Message sent—but was it received.

After delivering a message, how does the sender know if the receiver got the message that was intended? Is it the job of the sender or receiver to make sure that the communication has been understood? The answer is that both ends of the communication chain have some responsibility to verify what was both said and heard. In the workplace, however, the manager has the primary responsibility because a main part of her role is to gather and disperse information so organizational goals can be achieved. Managers need to have strategic conversations by asking questions and collecting feedback. One technique to gather feedback is active listening.

Active listening is a communication technique that has been around for many years and that has been used successfully in all types of endeavor—not just business. Parenting classes, marital relationships, public schools, counseling, and tutoring are just some of the areas where active listening is a valued skill. As the name implies, the focus of active listening as a tool for improving communication is on listening rather than talking. (Think here of the expression “You have two ears and one mouth for a reason.”) It is a process where the listener sets aside his own thoughts to concentrate more clearly what the speaker is actually saying instead of what the listener thinks the speaker is saying.

It takes practice to master the basic techniques of active listening, and you will probably feel awkward applying the technique in the beginning. But because the point is to increase effectiveness by decreasing the possibility of misunderstandings, it is worth a little discomfort. The basic method is briefly summarized in these steps:

  • Look at the speaker and make eye contact to indicate that the speaker has your undivided attention.
  • Note the body language of the speaker to help process the speaker’s message. Is the speaker angry, frustrated, frightened, rebellious, or tentative? Classic signs of anger include arms folded tightly in front of the body or held rigidly at the side. Fright or guilt may be shown by the refusal to look at you directly in the eyes or continually shifting gaze away from the listener’s face. The speaker may be feeling confrontational if his arms are on his hips and his legs are spread apart as if ready to move. If the speaker is constantly turning away from you, she may be hiding something and definitely wants to leave. If any of these signs are present, it is probably better to finish the conversation at a later time.
  • Don’t allow yourself to prepare a response before the speaker has finished his remarks. Keep your mind open and free of judgment until the end.
  • Ask questions to verify or confirm what you heard the speaker say. You might even ask a question or make a statement using the very same words as the speaker. “I heard you say that you were unhappy with the way John is managing the team.” Or “You said that you feel left out of the decision-making process for the project.”
  • Wait for the speaker to confirm or to correct your understanding of his message. He may respond with something like “Well, unhappy is too strong a word. I meant that there are times when I disagree with the decisions that John makes.” Then you can respond, “OK. You are not completely unhappy. You don’t always disagree with John.” Here you are confirming your understanding of the speaker’s corrected statement.

Practice Question

The other major advantage of active listening (besides preventing misunderstandings) is that you convey to the speakers that you care about them and their opinions. They become empowered to be more proactive because they believe they will get an unbiased hearing. For busy managers, actively listening can be time-consuming and require emotional investment. You really have to interrupt your work to stop and listen. The speaker may become emotional during the attempt to clarify the communication, especially while you are learning the approach. But in the end, you will have earned the trust and respect of an employee, and that is a worthwhile goal.

The answer to what signs in the photo above indicate good communication are as follows:

  • well-lit room
  • comfortable but upright seating
  • listener making eye contact
  • one man leaning forward to show interest
  • noiseless background

Did you find others?

Check Your Understanding

Answer the question(s) below to see how well you understand the topics covered in the previous section. This short quiz does  not  count toward your grade in the class, and you can retake it an unlimited number of times.

Use this quiz to check your understanding and decide whether to (1) study the previous section further or (2) move on to the next section.

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10 Common Barriers to Effective Communication (+How to Handle Them)

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Effective communication is key to the success of every individual, team, and organization. However, there are many barriers to effective communication in the workplace that one must contend with, including poor listening, distractions, cultural differences, mismatched communication styles, and more.

Each of these challenges presents unique obstacles, making it crucial for individuals and organizations to recognize and address them. Fortunately, if you’re reading this blog, you’ve already taken the first step in doing exactly that. Now, let’s review 10 of the most common barriers to effective communication.

  • Poor listening
  • Unnecessary use of jargon
  • Distractions
  • Mismatched communication styles
  • Unresolved conflict
  • Too much or too little information
  • Poor manners
  • Cultural differences
  • Language barriers

Is the way you communicate helping or hindering your effectiveness as a leader?  Find out in this guide.

1. Poor Listening

Poor listening is arguably one of the most common barriers to effective communication in the workplace. When we fail to fully listen, we risk missing important details, failing to understand the speaker's perspective, and misinterpreting the message. If these are things you have experienced the consequences of, then it’s all that much more vital for you to learn about the different types of listening and practice each until they become second nature.

2. Unnecessary Use of Jargon

Jargon is not inherently bad; in some situations, it can make for faster, more efficient communication. All too often, though, there is no confirmation that the language used by a particular team or organization is understood by all. As a result, people are left unnecessarily confused, lost, and frustrated, which is exactly the opposite of effective communication. It’s as Bart Engal, author of Leading Through Language , put it: “Jargon that creates a shared identity for some can exclude others simultaneously.” So, the next time you go to use a shorthand or acronym, ask yourself first if the audience you’re communicating with has the same understanding of its meaning as you do.

3. Distractions

Whether it's the noise of office chatter, constant email notifications, or interruptions from colleagues, distractions pose a substantial barrier to effective communication in the workplace. Not only do they take attention away from the message at hand, but they disrupt the flow of a conversation, making it challenging to maintain a fruitful two-way exchange of ideas. It is one barrier we all encounter daily, and we must make a conscious effort to fight not only for the good of ourselves, but our colleagues, teams, and clients.

4. Mismatched Communication Styles

When people with differing communication styles interact, there’s a greater chance of miscommunications happening, which in turn can compromise your ability to effectively communicate, collaborate, and maintain healthy working relationships . However, differing communication styles are something you have to navigate every single day. So, start learning about the major communication styles , find out what your and your colleague's styles are , talk about them, and practice adapting your style to suit your audience in low-risk situations.

5. Bad Timing

Timing is everything when it comes to communication in the workplace . You could have the most eloquent, well-crafted speech in the world, only for it to fall flat or blow back on you all because you failed to consider the timing of your message. This is a significant barrier to effective communication, and yet, the answer to overcoming it is simple - stop and think before you speak. Always ask yourself, is now really the right time? Remember, just because you might want it to be the right time that doesn’t always mean it actually is for your audience.

6. Unresolved Conflict

It’s not a matter of if conflict in the workplace is going to happen, but when. Unfortunately, when it does occur, not everyone has the skills, tools, or confidence needed to adequately resolve it. This can become problematic as unresolved conflicts leave space for tension and grudges to fester, which then makes it even more difficult to effectively communicate than it already is.

One way to handle this barrier is to identify your conflict style . In fact, you and the people you work closest at work with should all take this Conflict Styles Quiz and then share your answers. This will help you understand the people you work with better so that the next time you experience a conflict with them, you can address it and communicate with them about it in a way that appeals to their style.

7. Too Much or Too Little Information

Effective communication hinges on your ability to manage and filter information appropriately. After all, it’s a fine line between overloading your audience with excessive amounts of information and not providing them with the crucial information they need to even know where to begin. If this line is something you struggle to walk when communicating at work, make an intentional effort to check in with your audience and let them tell you when they do or do not have enough information from you. Ask questions like, “Is there anything you’d like me to clarify? Do you feel like you have all the information you need to get started? Would you find it helpful if I provided more details on X?”

8. Poor Manners

When you interrupt others, speak in a condescending tone, or ignore someone, you are displaying poor manners. Even if you don’t intentionally or consciously mean to exhibit such rude behaviors, they can still trigger emotional responses, such as anger or embarrassment, that make people feel unwilling to engage in a meaningful dialogue with you. Clearly, this creates a barrier to effective communication.

If people seem to become triggered or defensive when you communicate with them, it’s time to take a close look at your own behaviors. What could you be doing or saying (verbally or non-verbally) that could be causing such a response? Even better, ask them for constructive feedback. It might not be easy to hear, but it will give you a concrete idea of how to improve.

9. Cultural Differences

Cultural norms, values, and expectations influence how we communicate in the workplace every day. However, they may not pose a barrier until you work with someone whose cultural norms, values, and expectations differ from your own. Here’s an example of what that might look like from a popular HBR article on the topic: “French executives expecting straight talk from U.S. colleagues are routinely tripped up by Americans’ reluctance to give harsh feedback, while Americans are often blindsided by their outwardly polite and socially aware French bosses’ savage critiques.”

10. Language Barriers

The last but perhaps most obvious barrier to effective communication is language. When people speak different languages or have varying levels of proficiency in a common language, it can be immensely challenging to have productive conversations as so much time is spent going back and forth clarifying language. Not only that, but language barriers can also cause people to feel excluded and frustrated, which can inhibit collaboration in a big way.

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Effective Communication: Barriers and Strategies

Some basic skills can help you to be a more effective communicator in the classroom. This Teaching Tip explores barriers and strategies for active listening, accurate perception, and effective verbal communication.

Barriers to active listening

  • Focusing on a personal agenda.  When we spend our listening time formulating our next response, we cannot be fully attentive to what the speaker is saying.
  • Experiencing information overload.  Too much stimulation or information can make it very difficult to listen with full attention. Try to focus on the relevant information, and the central points that are being conveyed.
  • Criticizing the speaker.  Do not be distracted by critical evaluations of the speaker. Focus on what they are saying - the message - rather than the messenger.
  • Being distracted by strong emotional responses.  When you have strong emotional response, acknowledge the emotion and shift your focus back to listening. Make a conscious effort not to get lost in your emotional response.  
  • Getting distracted by external “noise”.  Audible noise may be extremely distracting. Some things can be minimized – e.g., turn down the ringer on your phone, and notifications on your phone or computer while meeting with someone. Other noises may be unavoidable – e.g., construction, other people. Also, there may be figurative “noise” from the external environment, such as distracting or inappropriate decor in a room, or environmental conditions such as the room being too hot or cold.
  • Experiencing physical illness or pain.  Feeling physically unwell, or experiencing pain can make it very difficult to listen effectively. You may wish to communicate that this is not a good time, and reschedule the discussion. 

Strategies for active listening

The following strategies are intended to promote active listening, or a type of listening with the goal to “develop a clear understanding of the speaker’s concern and also to clearly communicate the listener’s interest in the speaker’s message” (McNaughton, Hamlin, McCarthy, Head-Reeves, & Schreiner, 2008, p. 224).

  • Stop.  Focus on the other person, their thoughts and feelings. Consciously focus on quieting your own internal commentary, and step away from your own concerns to think about those of the speaker. Give your full attention to the speaker.
  • Look.  Pay attention to non-verbal messages, without letting yourself be distracted. Notice body language and non-verbal cues to allow for a richer understanding of the speaker’s point. Remember that “active listeners need to communicate to the speaker that they are involved and giving the person unconditional attention” (Weger, Castle, & Emmett, 2010, p. 35).
  • Listen.  Listen for the essence of the speaker’s thoughts: details, major ideas and their meanings. Seek an overall understanding of what the speaker is trying to communicate, rather than reacting to the individual words or terms that they use to express themselves.
  • Be empathetic.  Imagine how you would feel in their circumstances. Be empathetic to the feelings of the speaker, while maintaining a calm centre within yourself. You need not be drawn into all of their problems or issues, as long as you acknowledge what they are experiencing.
  • Ask questions.  Use questions to clarify your understanding, as well as to demonstrate interest in what is being said.
  • Paraphrase.  If you don’t have any specific questions to ask, you may choose to repeat back to the speaker, in your own words, what you have taken away, in order to allow the speaker to clarify any points (Weger et al., 2010).

Barriers to accurate perception

  • Stereotyping and generalizing.  Be careful not to hold on to preconceptions about people or things. We often have a tendency to see what we want to see, forming an impression from a small amount of information or one experience, and assuming that to be highly representative of the whole person or situation.
  • Not investing time.  Making assumptions and ignoring details or circumstances can lead to misconceptions. When we fail to look in-depth for causes or circumstances, we miss important details, and do not allow for the complexity of the situation.
  • Negativity bias.  Focusing on the negative aspects of a conversation or a situation is a habit common to many people. Even though we may recognize the positive things, we often give more weight to the negative, allowing one negative comment to overshadow numerous positive ones.
  • Assuming similar interpretations.  Not everyone will draw the same conclusions from a given situation or set of information. Everybody interprets things differently. Make sure to check for other people’s interpretations, and be explicit about your own.
  • Experiencing incongruent cues.  As speakers, and as listeners, we are constantly and simultaneously sending cues and receiving them from other people. Try to be consistent with your verbal cues and your body language. Do not say one thing and express something else through your body language. Be aware of how your non-verbal communication relates to your spoken words. If someone else seems to be sending a double message — by saying one thing and expressing something else in their body language — ask for clarification.

Strategies for accurate perception

  • Analyze your own perceptions.  Question your perceptions, and think about how they are formed. Check in with others around you regularly, and be aware of assumptions that you are making. Seek additional information and observations. You may just need to ask people if your perceptions are accurate.
  • Work on improving your perception.  Increase your awareness of barriers to perception, and which ones you tend towards. Check in with yourself regularly. Seek honest, constructive feedback from others regarding their perceptions of you as a means of increasing your self­awareness.
  • Focus on others.  Develop your ability to focus on other people, and understand them better by trying to gather knowledge about them, listening to them actively, and imagining how you would feel in their situation.

Verbal Communication

Barriers to effective verbal communication.

  • Lacking clarity.  Avoid abstract, overly-formal language, colloquialisms, and jargon, which obscure your message more than they serve to impress people.
  • Using stereotypes and generalizations . Speakers who make unqualified generalizations undermine their own clarity and credibility. Be careful not to get stuck in the habit of using stereotypes, or making generalizations about complex systems or situations. Another form of generalization is “polarization” or creating extremes. Try to be sensitive to the complexities of situations, rather than viewing the world in black and white.
  • Jumping to conclusions.  Confusing facts with inferences is a common tendency. Do not assume you know the reasons behind events, or that certain facts necessarily have certain implications. Make sure you have all the information you can get, and then speak clearly about the facts versus the meanings or interpretations you attach to those.
  • Dysfunctional responses.  Ignoring or not responding to a comment or question quickly undermines effective communication. Likewise, responding with an irrelevant comment -- one that isn't connected to the topic at hand -- will quash genuine communication. Interrupting others while they are speaking also creates a poor environment for communication.
  • Lacking confidence.  Lacking confidence can be a major barrier to effective communication. Shyness, difficulty being assertive, or low self-worth can hinder your ability to make your needs and opinions known. Also, a lack of awareness of your own rights and opportunities in a given situation can prevent you from expressing your needs openly. 

Strategies for effective verbal communication

  • Focus on the issue, not the person.  Try not to take everything personally, and similarly, express your own needs and opinions in terms of the job at hand. Solve problems rather than attempt to control others. For example, rather than ignoring a student who routinely answers questions in class with inappropriate tangents, speak with the student outside of class about how this might disrupt the class and distract other students.
  • Be genuine.  Be yourself, honestly and openly. Be honest with yourself, and focus on working well with the people around you, and acting with integrity.
  • Empathize rather than remain detached.  Although professional relationships entail some boundaries when it comes to interaction with colleagues, it is important to demonstrate sensitivity, and to really care about the people you work with. If you don’t care about them, it will be difficult for them to care about you when it comes to working together.
  • Be flexible towards others.  Allow for other points of view, and be open to other ways of doing things. Diversity brings creativity and innovation.
  • Value yourself and your own experiences.  Be firm about your own rights and needs. Undervaluing yourself encourages others to undervalue you, too. Offer your ideas and expect to be treated well.
  • Use affirming responses.  Respond to other in ways that acknowledge their experiences. Thank them for their input. Affirm their right to their feelings, even if you disagree. Ask questions, express positive feeling; and provide positive feedback when you can.

If you would like support applying these tips to your own teaching, CTE staff members are here to help.  View the  CTE Support  page to find the most relevant staff member to contact. 

McNaughton, D., Hamlin, D., McCarthy, J., Head-Reeves, D., & Schreiner, M. (2008). Learning to listen: Teaching an active listening strategy to preservice education professionals.  Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 27 , 223-231.

Weger, H., Jr., Castle, G. R., & Emmett, M. C. (2010). Active listening in peer interviews: The influence of message paraphrasing on perceptions of listening skill.  International Journal of Listening, 24 , 34-49.

CTE teaching tips

  • Question Strategies
  • Facilitating Effective Discussions
  • When Things Go Wrong

Other CTE resources

Consider participating in the  CTE’s Instructional Skills Workshop , an intensive, collaborative learning model that uses videotaped micro-teaching and peer feedback sessions to support participants' teaching reflection and growth.  

Other resources

  • Beebe et al. Interpersonal Communication: Relating to Others 2nd Canadian Edition. (Scarborough, Ontario: Allyn and Bacon, 2000). 
  • Gordon, T. (2003).  Teacher Effectiveness Training . First Revised Edition. New York: Three Rivers Press.
  • Wood, J. T. (2015).  Interpersonal communication: Everyday encounters . Nelson Education.

teaching tips

This Creative Commons license  lets others remix, tweak, and build upon our work non-commercially, as long as they credit us and indicate if changes were made. Use this citation format:  Effective Communication: Barriers and Strategies. Centre for Teaching Excellence, University of Waterloo

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Barriers to Effective Communication

Profile image of Catherine McCabe

3. Individual Barrier: It may be a result of an individual's perceptual and personal discomfort. Even when two persons have experienced the same event their mental perception may/may not be identical which acts as a barrier. Style, selective perception, halo effect, poor attention and retention, defensiveness, close mindedness, insufficient filtration are the Individual or Psychological barrier.

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As a manager, we need to know the different aspects of communication in order to communicate effectively and efficiently. And at this moment, barriers of communication will occur. Barriers of communication are obstacles that affects in the workplace from exchanging ideas and thoughts. By eliminating those barriers, it helps us to prevent misunderstanding. Put it in a simple way, barriers are equivalent to “Noise” (Danny, 2009). The objective of this report aims to achieve the following targets: 1. To scrutinize five types of communication barriers that will distort the message delivery process. 2. To elicit three ways how managers can improve their communication skills.

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The topic of communication is a universal topic across disciplines, across cultures and even across languages. According to Wang, Aenis, & Siew, (2019), studies in communication are constantly being done by different disciplines or even to compare across discipline. Researchers have also looked at effective communication by different cultures and even languages. It seems apparent that communication skills are universal and knowing factors to promote effective communication is vital in organizations. Similarly, Bergman Dellve and Skakgert (2016) assert that communication promotes tolerance and minimize conflicts. Knowing how and what to say at different situations is a skill many should master in order to minimize misunderstanding. Poole (2016) states that communication is a process that the sender and receiver masters. Failure to master the communication process leads to the emergence of barriers.

The Annals of Regional Science

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NPTEL: Communication Skills Module: 2 Lecture: 1 T. Ravichandran Barriers to Communication Welcome back to NPTEL's course on communication skills! In the first introductory module and the very first lecture we looked at the introductory aspects of communication skills. We looked at the need for communication; more specifically, we looked at the need for effective communication. We discussed the modalities of communication and strategies to make our communication very effective. We also observed that there are some barriers which will actually prevent you to make your communication very effective. In this module, Module II: Lecture 1, we will focus on the Barriers to Communication. Before I start talking to you about the Barriers to Communication, once again let us recall, why communication skills are very important.

Barrie's to the effective communication

Augustino Emmanuel

Read this article for your effective communication

European Journal of Education Studies

Noor Hanim Rahmat, (Associate Professor, Dr) , Ain Amilia

The success of an organization does not only rely on the rapid growth of their profits. Behind each success of the projects, there is a good relationship and cooperation between all members of the company. To ensure the work goes smoothly, communication is the vital key in achieving it. Without proper communication between the members of the company, the agreement while working cannot be accomplished. Therefore, this study aims to seek the various types of communications at the workplace. At the same time, this study investigates how the communication barriers affect the flow of communication and information at the workplace. A set of questionnaires was developed and distributed to employees in different companies. The questionnaire comprises different sections; demographic profile, the types of communications and the communication barriers. The participants contributed to this survey were in total of 31 respondents. The respondents involved had assessed the survey based on their personal experiences in their respective organizations. The results of the study showed that both verbal and non-verbal communications at the workplace played big roles in ensuring the smooth flow of the company. Other than that, the communication barriers at the workplace existed in which it could affect the growth of the company. Therefore, the findings of this study can help employers to be aware of the challenges and plan on how to overcome it. Recommendations for future research in this area are concluded at the end of this study.

International Journal of Asian Social Science

Noor Hanim Rahmat, (Associate Professor, Dr) , SITI KHADIJAH OMAR

Effective communication creates a positive working environment and thus increases the job performance of the staff. However, the absence of proper communication between the members of an organisation or a company would result in failure to achieve the agreement while working. Therefore, this study aims to investigate how perceptual factors, verbal, and non-verbal communication can be barriers to effective communication in the workplace. A set of questionnaires is used and distributed to workers of various industries in different companies. It consists of five parts: the demographic profile, verbal communication, non-verbal communication, work environment, and organisational values. A total of ninety-four (94) responses are received and recorded. Findings reveal how perceptual, verbal, and non-verbal factors influence the flow of communication in the workplace. Consequently, the findings of this study can help employers and employees to improve communication at all levels for the betterment of the work performance of all workers. Contribution/ Originality: This paper contributes to the existing literature by offering clear explanations of how perceptual, verbal, and non-verbal barriers affect the communication flow in the workplace. By analysing the highlighted barriers, employers can be mindful of the challenges in communication at work and strategise systematic ways on how to ensure effective communication among workers for a smooth flow of the company.

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Overcoming Barriers to Communication, Essay Example

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Problems of communication diminish the success of principles in the performance of their function. If messages are poorly transmitted or misinterpreted and if action is not effected, managers can not plan and monitor activities properly. Managers can do several things to improve communications in organizations. In general, these center around understand the barriers to communication and knowing how to overcome them.

The sender, the receiver, and the medium are the essential elements of the communication process. But unless a message is interpreted as it was meant, one still does not have communication. Misinterpretation is always possible when two individual in the organizational environment interact. The four types of communication barriers are (a) process barriers, (b) physical barriers, (c) semantic barriers, and (d) personal barriers.

Process barriers may arise in many situations. They stem from unwieldy procedural approaches that limit teams’ ability to do their work. Cumbersome approve processes and communication channels that follow the chain of command are incompatible with effective team operation.

Physical barriers are environmental factors which prevent or reduce the sending or receiving of communication. They include distance, walls, distracting background noise, and similar interferences. For example, in a hospital setting, which functions round the clock in three shifts, the senior officers may not see their subordinates for several days at a time. These are usually obvious barriers.

Personal barriers arise from judgments, emotions and the social values of people and are less obvious. These factors cause a psychological distance between people, which can be just as real as a physical barrier.Managers see and hear what they want to see and hear, and they remain selectively “tuned out” to that which they do not wish to see or hear. Psychological distance may entirely prevent communication, filter part of it or cause misinterpretation. For example, three doctors were discussing the serious condition of a patient. The sister-in-charge, who was working in the duty room, thought that they were talking about her incompetence. She rushed to the matron and requested her to transfer the patient to another floor because the doctors felt that she could not give sufficient nursing care to their patient.

Semantic barriers arise from the limitations of language. Language may take any of the three forms: words, picture and actions. Words have several meanings and they become meaningless if not they are put in the proper sense . One of the basic problems in communication is that the sense and meaning which is actually understood by one person may not be what the other intended to imply.

In a case, an employee noticed a banana peel lying on the floor of the office. She instructed the sweeper on duty to remove it immediately as it was a safety hazard. The sweeper, who was busy mopping up the floor, nodded his head to indicate that he would remove the banana peel. Just as the sweeper had finished mopping up the floor, another employee slipped on that same banana peel. The employee was furious at this mishapwhich could be avoided . She decided to report about the sweeper for disobeying her instructions. She was informed by the sweeper that he was going to pick up the peel just after completing the job in hand, i.e. mopping up the floor. By the word “immediate” the employee meant at once, whereas the sweeper understood he could do the job after completing the one in hand. This example clearly shows that even simple words carry different meanings to different people. Employees have to be told what managers want them to do. The speaker and the listener should understand the words in the same sense.

Managers must be clear about what they wish to communicate as wellas the objective of that communication. Before communicating, it is necessary to be clear about the problem and the information sought to be communicated to solve this problem. Therefore, it is necessary to decide what the receiver should know. If the objective is clear, communication is likely to succeed.

It is preferable to speak in the vernacular language of the receiver, because this is more effective. This is often not practicable in organizational setting because most of the employees belong to different regions and speak different languages. Though English is the most common language used in organizations, its use for communication still causes a language barrier because the majority of employees lack fluency and mastery over it.

Managers should use the right medium of communication, such as diagrams, charts, visual aids; according to the requirements because these can help the receiver achieve a better perception of the content of the communication.

In cases of upward communication, it is necessary to remove the organizational and intentional blocks. While communicating, it is desirable for managers to consider a complete physical and human setting. Even the tone of the communication matters. Therefore, the right climate should be created for communication in terms of the subject matter, the medium used, the situation and the persons involved.

The amount of communication must be adequate so that the recipient gets the complete message. The message should neither be unnecessarily lengthy nor too short.

For written communication, clarity, brevity, and style are important to make reading easier and the content is understandable.

One of the biggest assets of any organization is its human resources. Therefore, it is essential for managers to have interaction with them. The manager any organization should make it a point to meet employees occasionally, ask their problems and try to know whether they know the developments that are taking place in the organization.

Managers can control the choice of words; the use of technical terms, acronyms, or trade jargon; and the speed of delivery. They can sometimes control the time and place of the communication. They also can enhance understanding and retention by repeating vital information and showing the same information in some graphic form. All of these techniques will have considerable impact on the listeners.

A successful system of communication must operate not only from the Chief Executive’s office downwards but must consist of four interlocking circuits transmitting information, opinions, etc. downward, upward, horizontal and grapevine. It is manager’s responsibility that the management of an organization should realize the importance of effective communication within the organization. The management should find from their senior managers and lower employees the difficulties involved in communicating. They should know what information the employees would like to know from the management and what they should know from the employees through upward communication so that unnecessary bottlenecks of communication may be eliminated in the interest of the organization and for the free flow of communication.

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14.12: Barriers to Effective Communication

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Learning outcomes

  • Differentiate between filtering, selective perception, and information overload.
  • Differentiate between emotional disconnects, lack of source credibility, and semantics.
  • Explain active listening.

“I already talked to him about the schedule. Wasn’t he listening?” How often have you said words like these (or heard them said about a coworker)? Every time we talk or listen, there are things that get in the way of clear communication—things that interfere with the receiver getting the message from the sender. This interference is referred to as “noise,” and there are various types of noise that can cause a message to be misinterpreted.

Barriers to Effective Communication

Two men in an informal meeting, talking

Common sources of noise are explained in this section. How many of these examples can you remember affecting your conversations with friends, classmates, or coworkers?

Physical Conditions

Sometimes “noise” is just exactly that—loud or distracting sounds that make it impossible to hear or concentrate. Or the general level of background noise can be so intense that it is hard to focus for long on one particular voice. A room may be so hot or so cold that people can’t get comfortable and cannot pay attention. Outside activities may be a distraction to those with a view out windows. Finally, it may be lunchtime or too close to quitting time to keep people focused. Fortunately, with some awareness and advance planning, physical barriers to effective communication are some of the easiest to overcome.

Personal and particular experiences color how people view the world and how they communicate. A message sender sees the world through one set of filters (experiences and values) and the receiver sees it through a different set of filters. Each message has to pass, therefore, through at least two sets of filters. The more similar people are in lifestyle, experience, culture, and language, the more similar their mental filters are likely to be and the less distortion should occur. This is why people who come from very different social and economic situations than their audience must work extra hard to say exactly what they mean to avoid confusion. Also, the fewer people involved in the transmission of a message, the greater the chance that it will be received as the sender intended. In business, however, messages may be summarized by a manager and relayed through an administrative assistant who has clarified or edited the message. Messages exposed to many filters should be repeated in various ways to make sure they were understood as the sender intended.

Selective Perception

Selective perception is the tendency to either “under notice” or “over focus on” stimuli that cause emotional discomfort or contradict prior beliefs. For instance, some people live purposefully healthy lifestyles by frequently exercising and eating only nutritious food but still smoke cigarettes. Psychologists believe that they are selectively ignoring the evidence that smoking is dangerous to their health. They have chosen to disregard the information that would make them feel guilty or fearful about this habit. This is called perceptual defense . Selective perception can also be vigilant , meaning people are extra sensitive to things that are significant to them. If a manager doesn’t like a particular employee, for example, she may be super critical of that person’s behavior and notice every time he is a minute late to a meeting. On the other hand, a favorite employee coming late to work one morning might elicit concern that she had car trouble. Selective perception introduces bias into the communication process.

Information Overload

We have all been in situations when we felt that too much information was coming at us. When this happens, we feel overwhelmed and fear that we will not be able to retain any information at all. Sometimes it is not just the quantity of communication but the level that causes overload. If the message contains information that is new to the receiver, including processes or concepts that are not familiar, then the chances of overload increase greatly. The sender should break up the message into more palatable or digestible bits and reduce the amount of information that has to be absorbed at any one time. One technique is to make a high-level announcement and then follow it up later with more details. The sender has the primary responsibility to check that the receiver has understood the message. This means that a manager may have to adjust a message to reflect the various experiences of the employees. A new employee may need repeated explanations before beginning an operation, whereas an experienced employee may start rolling his eyes at the same old instructions.

Semantics is the study of the meaning of words and phrases. You might hear one person say to another “Let’s not argue semantics,” meaning he doesn’t want to get caught up in trivial and unimportant details or playing with words. But semantics is extremely important in effective communication. There are some semantic rules in English that may trip up non-native English speakers, such as the concept of subject-verb agreement and gender pronouns. These can cause confusion, as seen in the following examples:

  • Six man is coming to the meeting on Tuesday. (How many men are coming?)
  • Rachel is going to introduce the speaker at the conference. He may be asking you for information about her to make the job easier. (Who is asking for information, Rachel or the speaker?)

When your audience involves people whose native language is not English or individuals of different educational backgrounds, messages need to be direct and clearly stated to help ensure they are understood.

Denotation and Connotation

Confusion can also arise from the use of language by people from different educational levels, culture, and dialect. For instance, the terms lift and braces denote two entirely different meanings in the United States and in England. A Londoner might reasonably ask her partner if he was planning on wearing braces with his pants.

Some words have a connotation for one group of people that is not shared by another. “That’s sick!” could be a compliment or an insult, depending upon the listener. (You probably already know that slang does not belong in written business communications.) Fortunately for all of us, paying attention to the context of the message often reduces confusion. The meaning of homophones (buy, by, bye; meet, meat, mete; pair, pare, pear) and homographs (read, read; lead, lead) are often easily understood by their context or pronunciation.

Emotional Disconnects

Almost the first thing parents learns is never to try to have a rational discussion with a screaming toddler or an angry teenager. If they wait until the young person is more receptive to what they have to say, the odds of a successful conversation improve dramatically. Adults also experience emotional disconnects that affect the chance of successful communication. For example, when a person is feeling stressed or anxious, an expressed concern is more likely to be interpreted as criticism. Constructive criticism made while an employee is emotionally fragile may be perceived as a personal attack. If possible, it is better to postpone a communication if there is a strong likelihood that the intended receiver will misinterpret it because of his emotional state.

Credibility

A businesswoman holding a sign that reads “I am your boss!”

In communication, the validity of the message is tied to the reputation of the sender. If the receiver doesn’t trust the sender, he will view the message itself with skepticism or suspicion. If the sender is trustworthy, the receiver will likely believe the message despite her personal opinions about that subject. In other words, the trustworthiness of a communication, regardless of format, is heavily influenced by the perceived credibility of the source of that communication.

Source credibility describes the sender’s positive characteristics that affect the receiver’s acceptance of a message. A manager’s source credibility is based on experience, knowledge, and interpersonal skills. Managers who deal openly and candidly with employees will find it easier to solicit the kind of feedback that tells them whether their message has been understood.

Practice Questions

https://assessments.lumenlearning.co...essments/12312

https://assessments.lumenlearning.co...essments/12313

Message Sent—But Was It Received?

After delivering a message, how does the sender know if the receiver got the message that was intended? Is it the job of the sender or receiver to make sure that the communication has been understood? The answer is that both ends of the communication chain have some responsibility to verify what was both said and heard. In the workplace, however, the manager has the primary responsibility because a main part of her role is to gather and disperse information so organizational goals can be achieved. Managers need to have strategic conversations by asking questions and collecting feedback. One technique to gather feedback is active listening.

Active listening is a communication technique that has been around for many years and that has been used successfully in all types of endeavor—not just business. Parenting classes, marital relationships, public schools, counseling, and tutoring are just some of the areas where active listening is a valued skill. As the name implies, the focus of active listening as a tool for improving communication is on listening rather than talking. (Think here of the expression “You have two ears and one mouth for a reason.”) It is a process where the listener sets aside his own thoughts to concentrate more clearly what the speaker is actually saying instead of what the listener thinks the speaker is saying.

It takes practice to master the basic techniques of active listening, and you will probably feel awkward applying the technique in the beginning. But because the point is to increase effectiveness by decreasing the possibility of misunderstandings, it is worth a little discomfort. The basic method is briefly summarized in these steps:

  • Look at the speaker and make eye contact to indicate that the speaker has your undivided attention.
  • Note the body language of the speaker to help process the speaker’s message. Is the speaker angry, frustrated, frightened, rebellious, or tentative? Classic signs of anger include arms folded tightly in front of the body or held rigidly at the side. Fright or guilt may be shown by the refusal to look at you directly in the eyes or continually shifting gaze away from the listener’s face. The speaker may be feeling confrontational if his arms are on his hips and his legs are spread apart as if ready to move. If the speaker is constantly turning away from you, she may be hiding something and definitely wants to leave. If any of these signs are present, it is probably better to finish the conversation at a later time.
  • Don’t allow yourself to prepare a response before the speaker has finished his remarks. Keep your mind open and free of judgment until the end.
  • Ask questions to verify or confirm what you heard the speaker say. You might even ask a question or make a statement using the very same words as the speaker. “I heard you say that you were unhappy with the way John is managing the team.” Or “You said that you feel left out of the decision-making process for the project.”
  • Wait for the speaker to confirm or to correct your understanding of his message. He may respond with something like “Well, unhappy is too strong a word. I meant that there are times when I disagree with the decisions that John makes.” Then you can respond, “OK. You are not completely unhappy. You don’t always disagree with John.” Here you are confirming your understanding of the speaker’s corrected statement.

Practice Question

https://assessments.lumenlearning.co...essments/12314

The other major advantage of active listening (besides preventing misunderstandings) is that you convey to the speakers that you care about them and their opinions. They become empowered to be more proactive because they believe they will get an unbiased hearing. For busy managers, actively listening can be time-consuming and require emotional investment. You really have to interrupt your work to stop and listen. The speaker may become emotional during the attempt to clarify the communication, especially while you are learning the approach. But in the end, you will have earned the trust and respect of an employee, and that is a worthwhile goal.

The answer to what signs in the photo above indicate good communication are as follows:

  • well-lit room
  • comfortable but upright seating
  • listener making eye contact
  • one man leaning forward to show interest
  • noiseless background

Did you find others?

Contributors and Attributions

  • Barriers to Effective Communication. Authored by : John/Lynn Bruton and Lumen Learning. License : CC BY: Attribution
  • Image: Informal meeting. Authored by : jamesoladujoye. Located at : https://pixabay.com/en/listen-informal-meeting-chatting-1702648/ . License : CC0: No Rights Reserved
  • Image: Boss. Authored by : geralt. Located at : https://pixabay.com/en/boss-executive-businesswoman-454867/ . License : CC0: No Rights Reserved

Home — Essay Samples — Sociology — Effective Communication — Common Barriers to Effective Communication

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Common Barriers to Effective Communication

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Published: Feb 12, 2019

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Language barriers, physiological barriers, attitudinal barriers, language barriers.

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barriers to effective communication essay

Addressing Barriers to Effective Communication Essay

Introduction, description of communication barriers, proposed strategies for better outcome.

Effective communication is an integral aspect of nursing because nurses constantly interact with patients, families, colleagues, supervisors, and managers in the course of their duties. Rosenblatt and Davis (2009) argue that the nature of communication determines the quality of care that patients receive. In essence, effective communication leads to poor quality of nursing care, while effective communication leads to improved quality nursing care. In this view, healthcare centers must enhance the effectiveness of the communication process so that they can improve the quality of nursing care that patients receive.

Marquis and Huston (2012) analyze the communication process and identify media of communication and environment as factors that determine the effectiveness of communication. In the factor of environment, there is an external environment, which comprises power, status, and authority, while the internal environment comprises feelings, values, emotions, stress, and temperament.

The media of transmitting information that affects the effectiveness of communication are verbal, written, and non-verbal means. Therefore, the essay examines a case study of ineffective communication and describes barriers with a view of proposing strategies that are applicable in promoting better outcomes.

In an incident that depicts the ineffectiveness of communication in nursing care, a home health aide, who was providing nursing care to a patient with pressure ulcers, did not communicate effectively with the authorities and colleagues. In the first instance, the aide did not report to the home health agency regarding the presence of a patient with pressure ulcers, who required special care. Furthermore, the aide took the weekend off without reporting to the home health agency and left the patient unattended to by other aides.

After two days, the condition of the patient worsened and led to the development of multiple pressure ulcers. The worsening pressure ulcers caught the attention of another home health agency, which reported the incident to the state and have the patient admitted for further treatment for a couple of days. When asked about the situation, the aide stated that the caregiver prohibited her to report the pressure ulcers and did not allow her to take the weekend off.

The communication barriers that are present in the case study related to the reporting of pressure ulcers and allowing the aide to ask permission for the weekend off. The home health agency does not provide for the procedure of reporting pressure ulcers as the aide stated that the caregiver disallowed her from reporting the existence of the patient with pressure ulcers.

The communication barrier is the absence of a communication channel through which the aide can report the occurrence of pressure ulcers among patients to the authority. Robinson, Gorman, Slimmer, and Yudkowsky (2010) cite the nature of hierarchical authority structure as a barrier to effective communication between healthcare providers and their respective authorities. Moreover, the unprofessional practice of excusing oneself from work is an apparent barrier to effective communication.

According to Marquis and Huston (2012), communication entails the transmission of information from sender to receiver via written, verbal, or non-verbal means. Hence, from the case study, the caregiver acts as a personal and institutional barrier to communication between the aide and the home health agency. Overall, the case study presents personal and institutional barriers to effective communication.

The first proposed strategy that is applicable in improving the outcome of communication in nursing is the training of nurses to acquire professional skills of communication. Thomas, Bertram, and Johnson (2009) recommend the training of nursing students to enhance their communication skills so that they can communicate professionally. The aide lacked professional communication skills for she took the weekend off without seeking permission from the authority.

The second proposed strategy is that the home health agency should provide channels of communication so that nurses can communicate freely with authority or amongst themselves. Boscart (2009) argues that the enhancement of the quality of interactions improves the quality of nursing care. In this view, the aide and the caregiver poorly interacted, and thus led to the worst outcomes of nursing care.

Communication is an integral aspect of nursing because it influences the quality of care that patients receive. Usually, nurses have to communicate with patients, families, colleagues, and other healthcare providers in the course of their duties. The effectiveness of communication is dependent on many factors such as organizational structure, regulations, professionalism, and personal issues. In the case study, it is evident that the lack of organizational channels that allow nurses to communicate with their supervisors and authorities hinders the delivery of quality care.

The aide did not report the case of pressure ulcers because the caregiver disallowed her from doing so. Moreover, lack of professional skills of communication made the aide take the weekend off without seeking permission from the agency. Therefore, to address barriers to effective communication in the case study, training of nurses in the aspect of professional communication and provision of communication channels that improve quality of interaction and consequently the quality of communication is essential.

Boscart, V. (2009). A communication intervention for nursing staff in chronic care. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 65 (9), 1823-1832. Web.

Marquis, B. L., & Huston, C. J. (2012). Leadership roles and management functions nursing: Theory and application. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins. Web.

Robinson, F., Gorman, G., Slimmer, L., & Yudkowsky, R. (2010). Perceptions of effective and ineffective Nurse-physician communication in hospitals. Nursing Forum, 45 (3), 206-216. Web.

Rosenblatt, C. L., & Davis, M. S. (2009). Effective communication techniques for nurse managers. Nursing Management, 40 (6), 52-54. Web.

Thomas, C. M., Bertram, E., & Johnson, D. (2009). The SBAR communication technique: Teaching nursing students professional communication skills. Nurse Educator, 34 (4), 176-180. Web.

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Barriers to Effective Communication Essay

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Essay about Barriers to Effective Communication

Effective communication is essential to the accomplishment of any organization or company. The easy procedure for attaining the capability to interact properly between one host and another host can result in the real difference of life or death. There are lots of hurdles within communication in case an individual isn't properly trained to abide by certain principles. This document will review a lot of examples of effective communication as well as the hurdles a person may face when trying to properly transmit information to another person.

The word communication is depending on a type of a systematic procedure which involves the exchange of information between one person to another or between parties. There are normally a number of arrays between systems of symbols which is intertwined with discipline to produce a particular type of communications. Various parts of communications consist of situation, channel, interference, atmosphere, comments, source, message, and receiver. Communication is exactly what allows people to share particular experiences or knowledge between themselves.

Personal communication is noticeable by many types including talking, writing, broadcasting, sign language, as well as gestures. Broken down even more, various types of communication also can be accidental, deliberate, transactive, interactive, inter or intrapersonal and also verbal and nonverbal. The differences between hearing and listening are quite distinct. When an individual is hearing, one simply feels a sound. However, in case an individual is listening, they are simply being mindful or conscious with a wish to hear or reply to others while making sure an understanding of the type of communication.

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One should be certain that one has a dedication to listening as well as have an open mind to think about ones point of view. Keep up with the capability to listen to what an individual is stating irrespective of whether one agrees or disagrees with the other. Avoid the impulse to spring to results and recognize body gestures. Don't end a talk suddenly, rather be very sensitive, sympathetic, as well as understanding (Sykes, 2005). Sometimes, an individual’s notion of listening can be to jump in the middle of the talk and attempt to give undesirable advice. But, the ord listening doesn't involve an invitation when a problem should be fixed. At times the speaker is just looking for an ear which would listen sympathetically. The capability to efficiently listen can make a difference in the achievement of a relationship or a job. Just listening can sometimes, help in accomplishing degrees of success required in order to go ahead. Formal communications is a much more managed or organized method in which pertinent information is shared between persons in an attempt to achieve a secure, synchronized action in the company.

The idea behind formal communication bases an individual’s part in a company and distributes their communication in an organized way which goes as per the established chain of command. In a criminal justice organization, formal communication normally moves in a downward manner generally starting at the police commissioner stage and working its way down toward the stage of police officer. Formal communication also works the other way round by having reports or facts from the police officer stage passed on as high as the police commissioner stage, based on its significance.

When talking about informal communications in a criminal justice company, we will know that it meets a variety of requirements, more specifically, emotional as well as social requirements. Informal communication isn't really depending on the position that an individual takes up in the company. Informal communication isn't a planned, a managed type of communication, however, it's a lot more like a casual, relaxed type of communication in which word of mouth swiftly passes through a company since there is restriction on the secrecy of the information.

Grapevine will be the word most frequently used for informal communication in a criminal justice company. As per Wilhelm, “Grapevine communication can spread information quickly and can easily cross establish organizational boundaries, the information it carries can be changed through the deletion or exaggeration of crucial details thus causing the information to be inaccurate - even if it’s based on the truth” (2010). A known hurdle to efficient communication is inhibition. Different personalities, family characteristics, or dependencies may influence communication.

One more known hurdle to efficient communication is referred to as denial. Believe it or not, denial is kind of a human expression in which we refuse circumstances in which we don't feel any comfort in showing or being sincere about. Alternatives have been known to turn into hurdles in a number of ways toward efficient communication. Incongruence’s happens when a spoken message isn't congruent or equivalent to the language of the body nor the pitch, volume, as well as power of facial expressions.

To assess an individual’s efficiency of how to communicate with other people, one should have the capability to exchange ideas with other people, fix problems, as well as know another’s point of view. The simple act of communication isn't easy; one should be capable to communicate verbally, nonverbally, as well as know preverbal components. While referring to the subject matter of a message for example the arrangement or selection of our phrases, we are interacting verbally. Transmitting messages through body gestures is a type of nonverbal communication.

While talking about how we say what we say for example the pacing or volume of our sounds, we are communicating in a preverbal context. All three parts should be used successfully so as to accomplish efficient communication. We should be capable to send brief, clear messages and also hear and understand the message another is attempting to convey. So far as communication is concerned, we wish to attempt to send nonverbal, preverbal, as well as verbal messages. The listener can become baffled with our message in case we are irregular.

It might also form a lack of confidence in which it might undermine the opportunity to develop a good connection with another. However, when individuals listen efficiently, they may be capable to recognize particular phrases or actions which may lead that individual to knowing the scenario as the other person is attempting to express it. In case a person gives a message which includes contradictory information, the nonverbal information is what the other person might think as believable.

We successfully have covered much of the various hurdles of communications and also developed strategies as well as solutions to assist us overcome a variety of different hurdles to efficient communication. Even though the reality may be subjective or a matter of belief when it involves efficient communication, we should see a much deeper knowledge of the issue and assess any potential route in which a contract might be reached.

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