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Barriers To Effective Communication

This document discusses barriers to effective communication. It identifies several types of barriers, including environmental/physical barriers like time, space, and place; semantic barriers related to language use; cultural barriers between people of different backgrounds; and psychological barriers related to attitudes and perceptions. Within organizations specifically, it notes barriers can include perceptual, emotional, language, cultural, and physical issues. Some ways to overcome barriers include using simple language, reducing noise, active listening, avoiding information overload, and flexibility. Overall, the document emphasizes that recognizing and addressing communication barriers is important for organizations, education, daily tasks, and individuals.

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Ahmad Nabaz Khalil Hamasalih
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237 views6 pages

Barriers To Effective Communication

This document discusses barriers to effective communication. It identifies several types of barriers, including environmental/physical barriers like time, space, and place; semantic barriers related to language use; cultural barriers between people of different backgrounds; and psychological barriers related to attitudes and perceptions. Within organizations specifically, it notes barriers can include perceptual, emotional, language, cultural, and physical issues. Some ways to overcome barriers include using simple language, reducing noise, active listening, avoiding information overload, and flexibility. Overall, the document emphasizes that recognizing and addressing communication barriers is important for organizations, education, daily tasks, and individuals.

Uploaded by

Ahmad Nabaz Khalil Hamasalih
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

Cihan University- Erbil Subject: Communication skills

Department of General Education Date: 20 / 4 /2021

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Barriers to Effective Communication

From second Stage Students:

Mohamad Murad Qadir

Under Supervision by

Dr/ Azad Naïf

Page 1 of 6 Cihan University / 2020 – 2021


Abstract
Communication is a very common concept in everyday life and takes place in every setting,
organization, area or a place, no work or operation or function is carried out without effective
means of communication. Within the process of communication, it is apparent that barriers
and obstacles do occur, which can be avoidable and which cannot be avoidable; therefore, an
individual should inculcate all the required skills, attitudes and traits amongst himself so that
he can effectively overcome all the barriers to communication. In this research manuscript,
there have been various crucial areas, kinds of barriers to effective communication, barriers to
effective communication within an organization and procedures for overcoming them,
psychological barriers to effective communication, content barriers to effective
communication and overcoming communication barriers. The main emphasis has been laid
upon the barriers that arise within an organizational structure and the problems that arise due
to occurrence of these barriers.

Introduction
Communication is stated to be one of the most crucial systems, which is essential to develop
in all areas. It does not matter how good the communication system is, how well formed and
well developed it is, barriers do occur within the communication systems, whether it is an
organization, communication between the family members, social network, institution and so
forth. Barriers that take place within the communication systems are very unfortunate and
unwanted, every individual wants that his functioning should be implemented in a smooth
manner without the occurrence of barriers, for instance, when a person is discussing a vital
issue with somebody, or two friends are having a friendly conversation and a doorbell rings
or somebody enters then in most cases, it is displeasing. There are number of reasons due to
which these barriers take place, most of the barriers carry a reason, for instance, if some
important task is going on and a doorbell rings and somebody enters immediately, this might
have occurred due to a particular reason and there are also numerous factors which can be
physical barriers, such as faults that take place in the telephonic system, internet not working
or any barriers which are random (Usman, n.d.).

Page 2 of 6 Cihan University / 2020 – 2021


Kinds of Barriers to Effective Communication

There are barriers to communication which are of different kinds and possess various kinds of
characteristics: (Communication Theory, n.d.).

1- Environmental and Physical Barriers – Under the environmental and physical


barriers, there have been classification of barriers as follows:
Time – This is the barrier which is concerned with developing quicker and speedy channels of
communication. For example, when communicating with somebody, if the process is time
consuming such as mailing letters then it is a barrier, any kind of communication whether, it is
done in a formal or an informal manner, if it is highly time consuming then it proves to be a
barrier and for efficient working, individuals need to develop a faster means of communication
such as electronic mail instead of sending letters by post.

Space – It is vital to eliminate the unwanted distance within the communication system, if the
condition requires it, for example, it can occur in telephonic communication. If two persons
need to discuss an important matter and one of them is in India, whereas other one is in the
United States of America, then telephonic conversation may not prove to be very effective,
then they can send each other details through the system of email.

Place – The area, the environment where the communication is taking place should be clear
and not over-crowded. Noise pollution can be a barrier to effective communication, this is
obvious, where there is noise, there a person cannot efficiently communicate, therefore places
and areas with lesser people, proper ventilation is required for effective communication.

Medium – The medium via which the process of communication is taking place should be
effective and appropriate. Communication takes place in various forms; it is oral, written,
audio, video, formal, informal, the medium used for the purpose of communicating should be
accurate, precise and understandable.

2- Semantic Barriers – When communicating with the other persons, no matter what kind of
communication means is utilized, whether it is formal or informal, it is vital to make use of
Page 3 of 6 Cihan University / 2020 – 2021
appropriate words, vocabulary and language; all kinds of communication should reflect
decency. Language and vocabulary that is used in communication should be understandable to
the persons; if a person speaks only English and a word is used in Spanish then he may or may
not understand the word, for instance, if a person speaks only English, then it could be a
possibility that he might have studied other languages such as Spanish or French. Two or more
persons when they are communicating with each other should use a common language, so that
everyone can understand it well.

3- Cultural Barriers – Communication also takes place between people belonging to different
nationalities, religions, castes, creeds, races, ethnicities etc. in other words, when two persons
are communicating with each other, there may be differences in their cultural backgrounds. It
is vital to overcome all the barriers that might occur within the course of communication. It is
crucial to make people aware of ones own culture with whom they are communicating. In the
form of communication, it is vital to form an understanding and acceptance of another person’s
culture.

4- Psychological Barriers- In the process of communication, it is vital to understand each


other’s mindset and mental capacity; this applies in every case whether it is a professor giving
a lecture or a conversation between the employer and an employee. If someone is
communicating with the other individual or a group of individuals with an attitude of
disinterest or unwillingness then the process of communication will not be effective. In this
case, it would have believed to be that attitude of the communicators is inappropriate for the
purpose of making the process of communication effectual. It is therefore considered crucial to
overcome the psychological barriers.

5- Perception of Reality- When communicating, it is important to understand various


perceptions of a situation or of an issue or a problem. There are different levels of perceptions
that are involved when communicating about a particular topic, condition, problem, issue,
situation, dilemma, stress or a concept. Lacking understanding about different levels of
perceptions may prove to be a barrier. In order to implement effective communication, it is
vital to gain the ‘perception of reality’ which means information about facts, knowledge,

Page 4 of 6 Cihan University / 2020 – 2021


figures, actuality and what is true. While communicating, it is important to be open, flexible
and transparent.

Discussion and Summary


In the concluding part of this manuscript, it is vital to highlight that effective communication is
very essential not only for the development and

progress of the organizational structure, educational institution, academic learning or in


implementation of ones daily routine tasks but also for the individual as a whole. There are
number of barriers that do come within the course of communication, these are environmental
and physical barriers, semantic barriers, cultural barriers, psychological barriers and perception
of reality. Within an organizational structure, many barriers arise and there have been
formulation of certain measures and procedures for overcoming them, these are perceptual
barriers, emotional barriers, language barriers, cultural barriers and physical barriers; the most
effective and successful means of overcoming barriers of effective organizational
communication is by forming an optimistic approach within the workplace and it is regarded
as mandatory to develop politeness, good manners and respect within ones approaches and
attitude. Psychological barriers to effective communication can be marital barriers, academic
culture and communication flow. Content barriers to effective communication are non-
assertive behavior, anger or frustration, personal bias, team diversity, lack of confidence,
inappropriate priorities, organizational structure, distractions and interruptions, tunnel vision,
rank differences and task preoccupation. In the final part of the manuscript, steps have been
identified to overcome the communication barriers, these are, eliminating differences in
perception, use of simple language, reduction and elimination of noise levels, active listening,
emotional state, simple organizational structure, avoid information overload, provide
constructive feedback, proper media selection and flexibility in meeting the targets.

Page 5 of 6 Cihan University / 2020 – 2021


References:
1-Introduction to Communication Theory. (n.d.) Retrieved June 16, 2015 from
http://bookfel.org/download/english(2)/communication/Introduction%
20to%20Communication%20Theory.pdf

2-Skills You Need. (2011). Barriers to Effective Communication. Retrieved June 18, 2015
from http://www.skillsyouneed.com/ips/barriers-communication.html

3-Smith, C. (2015). The Seven Barriers of Communication. Retrieved June 19, 2015 from
http://guides.co/guide/the-seven-barriers-of-communication/

4-Usman, T. (n.d.). Barriers to Effective Communication. Retrieved June 20, 2015 from

5-http://www.uet.edu.pk/export/sites/UETWebPortal/qec/qec_intro/downloads/Barriers-to-
Effective-Communication.pdf

Page 6 of 6 Cihan University / 2020 – 2021

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