BARRIERS TO EFFECTIVE

COMMUNICATION AND
THEIR MANAGEMENT
POINTS OF DISCUSSION
 Communication-what it is?
 Significance of communication
 Process of Communication
 Barrier?
 Barriers to communication
COMMUNICATION

Tuğçe AYDIN
 Communication is the transfer of information from one source towards
a receiver. Transmitting messages can be achieved
through verbal or non-verbal processes.
WHAT IS
COMMUNICATION?
 Communication is a process through which two or more people
exchange information, ideas, thoughts, emotions in such a way that
each gain a common understanding of the intended message.
 Communication is a dyadic concept.
 In Communication system 35% message is carried verbally and
rest of the 65% non verbally.
  Verbal communication involves two or more individuals exchanging
information through speaking. 
 Written communication includes messages that are encoded
symbolically into words such as letters, emails, social media posts, etc. 
 Non-verbal communication is intended messages interpreted through
proxemics (distance), kinesics (body language), haptics (touch), and
appearance. 
 Visualization in communication focuses on the expression of messages
through images, logos, maps, print ads, etc. 
The communication process has various elements:
Sender – the source of information
Receiver – the intended recipient of the message
Message – the information being transmitted
Channel – the manner in which the message is sent
Encoding – the symbolic translation of the message in the form of
words, images, gestures before it is conveyed through the channel
Decoding – the process of breaking-down the context of the message
Feedback – the response generated by the receiver after decoding
COMMUNICATION
Communication is the process of sending and
receiving messages between parties
Basic Model Of Communication
Source Encoded Channel Decoded Receiver

Feedback
SIGNIFICANCE OF
COMMUNICATION
Lifeblood of an individual, organisation,
society
As you grow you communicate more and
more
In all domains of life and in all directions
Downwards Sideways Upwards
BARRIERS TO EFFECTIVE
COMMUNICATION

Ayşe Bilge ÇAKIR

BARRIER ?
 Lack of Commonness is barrier
 A barrier to interpersonal communications is anything that
prevents, restricts or impedes the conveyance of meaning by words
or gestures between two or more persons in a social setting.
 The term ‘Barriers’, ‘Obstacles’, ‘ Hindrances’ and ‘noise’ are all
used to describe the distracting stimuli associated with the
communication process

Absence of defined role of any component = Creates Barrier

BARRIERS TO
EFFECTIVE
COMMUNICATION
Social
Psychological
Cultural
Physiological,
System design
Physical
Receivers
SOCIAL BARRIERS
Gender
Age
Race
National or Cultural
Origin
Socioeconomic Class
Education Level
Urban or Rural
Residence
GENDER

Major influence on the way we communicate

with others.
When men and women work together in a
group, men tend to be more assertive and self-
confident.
Women are more likely than men to express
their emotions, to reveal how they feel about a
situation.
 AGE
Young people and old people communicate in
different ways.
We do tend to judge a statement by different
standards if we know the speaker’s age.
A person’s age or gender is not
important in judging the truth or
wisdom of what that person says .
Their maturity, their educational
backgrounds, and the different eras in
which they grew up make a Generation
Gap inevitable.
SOCIAL BARRIERS CONT…..
 Purpose of Communication
 Informative, entertaining and persuasive
 Purpose not clear/missing/at odds
 Social Noise/Subjective factors
 Human relation/ personal preferences overshadow the
objectivity of the communication.
 Boys/Girls, Friends/enemies, Nice people

Try to ensure the Objectivity. Do not get dragged by

Subjective factors.
PSYCHOLOGICAL
BARRIERS
 Attitude towards self
 Fear
 Attitude towards audience
 Attitude towards the message
 You Yourself is not convinced with the subject
 Knowledge of subject
 Personality/Status of the communicator
PERCEPTION
Our physical limitations are a
screen through which we perceive
things that exist in our
environment.
Our perception is also limited by
psychological screens that we have
developed.
Choosing from among the many
things within our range of
perception those that we will
notice, and block out the rest is
called “Selective Perception”
MOTHER: WILL YOU STRAIGHTEN UP YOUR
ROOM?
TEENAGER: WHY? WHAT’S MESSY?
 SELECTİVE
PERCEPTİON
Allows us not only to block out things that are
there, but also to see more things than are there.

Leads us to make our own reality!

Most clearly seen in the human tendency to

stereotype others.
 MOTIVATION
A Motive is a Reason For
Action!
The most strongest

motivations are those

that are most personal.

We are motivated by money,

fame, power, love, status, security,

skill, ambition...etc
ambition...etc

it can be both positive

or negative.
TUNNEL VISION
A closed way of thinking, especially about
abstract topics, such as religion and
politics.
The person with tunnel vision is one who has firmly
fixed ideas
The opposite side is open-mindedness
Person with tunnel vision has attitude seems to say;
“I’ve already made up my mind, Don’t confuse me
with the facts!!!”
EGO DEFENSIVENESS
A response pattern in which a person who follows this
pattern sees a disagreement as a personal
attact .

A self-centered communication

More than just being selfish

 NEGATIVE EMOTIONS

Almost always obstacles to good

communication!
Especially true barrier if the emotion is
uncontrolled, unfocused, or misdirected.
OTHER PSYCHOLOGICAL
BARRIERS
 People’s State of Mind

Happy, Sad
 Personal Problems/Worries
 Pre conceived notions of Communicator or Receiver
 Mental limitations of human beings, failure to refer language to
experience, the confusion of concept.
CULTURAL BARRIERS
Semantic Problems: Distortion in
communication comes from semantics- the
use of words or expressions which have a
different meaning for the sender or receiver.
Created when communicators use
technical jargon- usage common to a
particular field or specialization.
CULTURAL BARRIERS
 Language
Different languages, dialect, individual linguistic
ability, use of difficult words, inappropriate
words, pronunciation
 Norms and values
 Belief
 Social practices and traditions
PHYSIOLOGICAL BARRIERS
 Individuals’ personal discomfort

ill health, poor eye sight, hearing difiiculties

 Speech and voice defect, feeling of inferiority, diseases, physical
appearance, lack of skill.
SYSTEM DESIGN
 Organisational Structure

unclear, to whom to communicate,

 Insufficient or inappropriate information systems
 Information overloaded
 A lack of clarity in roles and responsibilities
 A lack of supervision or training
The distortion of message is any kind of loss, deformation, miss
presentation or alteration taken place in original message while sending
it to audience.
Types of Distortion :
1. Systematic Distortion – Purposely changed
2. Fog Distortion – information is lost
3. Mirage Distortion - extra, unwanted information
STATUS AND POWER
DİFFERENCES
Differences in
communications are
likely to parallel the
differences in power.
Imbalance or asymmetry
in negotiating power
leads the high power
party to perform
significantly better than
the low power party.
PHYSICAL BARRIERS
Channel
 Availability of channel to receiver (Common channel)
 Choice of channel
 Handling of channel by communicator
 Reach : depending on size of audience, mike, etc.
 Noise level in Channel
 Presentation of information/message treatment
Muddled messages
“Dogs for sale.Will eat anything.Especially likes children. Call 888-
3599 for more information.”
Climate
 Extreme temperature (Hot/Cold)
 Bright/ Dim Light
 High Humidity
Comfort
PHYSICAL BARRIERS
CONT…..
Distractions:It occurs
where people
are constantly coming
in and leaving for one
reason or another, and
experinced the
frustration that is
created by this
distracting traffic flow.
flow
PHYSICAL BARRIERS
CONT…..
Distractions
Noise (Co-workers, Doors, etc.)
Photographer
Any announcements
Instruction Sheet
Tea
Late Comers
Physical Setting of Classroom/ Lecture Hall
Sitting Arrangement
Audio-Visual Aids
RECEIVER-THE
ULTIMATE
 Absenteeism/Day Dreaming/ Pretending Listening
 Strayers: They constantly take the group off the track.
They drag the discussion out of context
 Gabbers: They are the people who like to talk first and
try to dominate in the discussion. They think that they
are the only ones with anything worth saying
 Silent: They are just as well informed as many other
members of the group but they rarely contribute
verbally

Listening without observing speaker’s tone, gesture, posture and

facial expression is like getting the words of a song without music
Relating to Receiver
Problem of homogeneity: The more homogeneous
the audience is, the greater are the chances
for successful communication.

Problem of cooperation and involvement: The listeners must

cooperate and get actively involved in
the communication process, they must try to get
tuned together with the communicator.

Negative attitude of the audience towards the communicator: If the

audience has negative attitude
for the communicator or if the credibility of
communicator as perceived by the audience is low,
no successful communication will take place.
 PROBLEMS IN COMMUNICATION
Relating to Transmission of Message

 Wrong handling of the channels: If the channels selected for

communication are not handled effectively, their potential for
carrying a message will be dissipated.
 Wrong selection of channels: If the channel selected is not in
accordance with the objective/subject, interpretation will not be in
a desired way.
 Use of inadequate channels in parallel: For the message to have
got through and received properly, use of more than one channel in
parallel or at about the same time is essential.
 Physical distraction: Failure to avoid physical distraction often
obstructs successful sending of the message.
POINTS TO REMEMBER
 Communication is a two way process.
 Effective communication= Bridging the gap between encoded
and decoded message= Establishing Common Understanding
 Responsibility of effective communication mainly lies with
the communicator
 Feedback is an important return message. Ensure getting
and using it effectively for better performance
 Know the roadblocks. This will help you to handle the
communication process in an effective way
 Use Heart and Mind and Soul for an effective result
 Communication is a skill, learn and practice
To Become an Effective communicator
Make effective use of
Heart and Body, Mind and Soul