MISCOMMUNICATION

AND BARRIERS TO
COMMUNICATION
A PRESENTATION BY:
YAKEEN AGARWALA
BBS-I(E)
SPECIAL THANKS TO

SUMIT KUMAR

FOR HELPING
ME WITH THE
TECHNICAL
PARNEET
STUFF
CHOPRA
MISCOMMUNICATION IN
PRODUCT EVOLVEMENT
As Marketing Requested It
As Sales Ordered It
As Engineering Designed It
As Production Manufactured It
As Maintenance Installed It

This is what too much of brain

can do!!!
What the Customer Wanted
THUS WE CAN SEE HOW
MISCOMMUNICATION CAN LEAD TO LOSSES
"To effectively communicate, we must
realize that we are all different in the
way we perceive the world and use this
understanding as a guide to our
communication with others." 
                          ~Anthony Robbins ~
 Communication
Communication is a system of transmitting messages using multiple
components.
It is generally used to convey thoughts, feelings and/or ideas.

NOISE
Miscommunication
It can happen to anyone
 (LACK OF CLEAR OR ADEQUATE COMMUNICATION)

HOW DOES MISCOMMUNICATION

TAKE PLACE??
One side(either sender/receiver) doesn't
communicate enough information.
Misinterpretation of the real meaning.
Asynchronous communication: Mis- Typed words.
No communication
MISUNDERSTAND MISINTERPRET LYING & EVASION

It is when one It is when the It is deceptive

group member interpretation of a communication.
gains an group members This acts as a way
interpretation that statement suggests for the speaker to
he believes is that his values and hide their actual
accurate, but in beliefs are different beliefs or actions.
reality is not the from the other Thus the speaker
interpretation. group members gains some power
(no understanding: values and beliefs. over the listeners
did not gain any because he has
interpretation) obscured the true
beliefs or actions.
Dog for sale: eats anything and is fond of children.
Used Cars: Why go elsewhere to be cheated? Come
here first!
Illiterate? Write today for help.
Wanted: Man to take care of cow that does not
smoke or drink.
Stock up and save.  Limit: one.
Tired of cleaning yourself?  Let me do it.
Message Distortion
Downward Communication
Through Five Levels of Management

Message Amount of message

written by board of directors 100%
Message Distortion
Downward Communication
Through Five Levels of Management

Message Amount of message

written by board of directors 100%
received by vice-president 63%
Message Distortion
Downward Communication
Through Five Levels of Management

Message Amount of message

written by board of directors 100%
received by vice-president 63%
received by general supervisor 56%
Message Distortion
Downward Communication
Through Five Levels of Management

Message Amount of message

written by board of directors 100%
received by vice-president 63%
received by general supervisor 56%
received by plant manager 40%
Message Distortion
Downward Communication
Through Five Levels of Management

Message Amount of message

written by board of directors 100%
received by vice-president 63%
received by general supervisor 56%
received by plant manager 40%
received by team leader 30%
Message Distortion
Downward Communication
Through Five Levels of Management

Message Amount of message

written by board of directors 100%
received by vice-president 63%
received by general supervisor 56%
received by plant manager 40%
received by team leader 30%
received by worker 20%
Causes for Miscommunication
Organizational structure
Difference in status
Lack of trust
Closed communication climate
Incorrect choice of medium
Information overload
Message complexity
Unethical communication
Physical distractions
Ice Breakers-
play a very important role in small group communication. The sole
purpose of an ice breaker is to get the members of the group to relax and participate in group
discussions.
Examples

Who in your life has most influenced you? 

What is something you want people to remember about you? 
If you could make one wish that would come true, what would it
be?
What is one thing you would like to accomplish in your
lifetime?
What is something you want to see before you die?
Have you ever had something stolen?
SOME COMMON BARRIERS
1. Physiological barriers
2. Physical barriers
3. Semantic barriers
4. Cultural barriers
5. Ethical barriers
6. Social barriers
7. Language barriers
8. Emotional barriers
9. Organizational barriers
Identifying barriers
Communication is about overcoming barriers.
Apparent Practical Example
‘cause’

Psychological Message from external stakeholder ignored due to

‘groupthink’

Cultural Message from organisation misinterpreted by members

of a particular group

Political Message from internal stakeholder not sent because

individual is marginalised

Economic Message not available to a public sector organisation

due to lack of resources

Technological Message not delivered due to technical failure

Physical Message cannot be heard and visual aids cannot be
seen by some members of the audience
 Physiological Barriers
 Physiological barriers to communication are those that
result from the performance characteristics and
limitations of the human body and the human mind.
 COMMON BARRIERS TO COMMUNICATION

PERCEPTIONS
Stereotypes
Halo effects
Selective perception
 See and hear what we expect
 Ignore if conflicts with “what we know.”

Projection
What’s your perception?
 Perceptual barriers

Many factors affect individuals’ perceptions, such as experience,

needs, personality, culture and education. Therefore, people’s
perceptions of situations and messages differ.
 Barriers to Effective Interpersonal
Communication
An individual's subjective viewpoint towards
issues/people, which leads to assumptions.
Words can have different meanings to different
people, thus blocking communication.
Use of negative words
 Overcoming the barriers

 Be sensitive to receiver’s point of view. Take him more

seriously.
Listen to UNDERSTAND!
Learn to use feedback well. Securing proper feedback
Use direct, simple language, or at least use language
appropriate to the receiver.
Learn to use channels well. Using multiple channels
and encoding.
Think more clearly about the message.
FILTERING OF DATA
LOSS OF IMPORTANT DATA
UNNECESSARY ADDITIONAL INFO IS ADDED

BUT HELPFUL SOMETIMES WHEN DONE

DELIBERATELY BY THE MANAGERS.
 Memo from CEO to manager
At 11 o’clock today, there will be a total eclipse of the
sun. This is when the sun disappears behind the moon
for two minutes.
Since this is something that is not seen every day,
employees have permission to view the eclipse in the
parking lot. Staff should meet in the lot at 10 minutes
to 11.
At that time, I’ll give a brief speech explaining the
eclipse. The company will provide safety
goggles for a small fee.
 Memo from manager to department head
Today at 10 minutes to 11, all staff should meet in the
car park to see the sun disappear for two minutes
during a total eclipse.

For a moderate cost, goggles will be provided for

safety. The CEO will deliver a short speech
beforehand. This is not something that can be seen
every day.
 Memo from department head to floor
manager
Today the CEO will deliver a short speech to make the sun
disappear for two minutes during an eclipse.

This is something that happens every day and staff will

meet in the car park at 10 or 11. It will be safe, if you pay
a moderate cost.
 an a g e r t o s u pe r v iso r
Me mo f ro m flo o r m

th e ca r p ark w h er e th e
Ten or 11 staff are to go to in utes.
p s e th e s u n fo r tw o m
CEO will ecli

y day. It wil l b e safe an d,

This doesn’t happen ever
as usual, it will cost you.
 Memo from supervisor to staff

Some staff will go to the car park today to see the CEO
disappear.

It is a pity this doesn’t happen everyday.

FEEDBACK AS THE BARRIER TO COMMUNICATION

 ABSENCE OF FEEDBACK,
 POOR FEEDBACK

Sometimes feedback itself is the main barrier if

not aptly given by the receiver. Eg: sometimes a
person is forced to/ thinks appropriate to give a
particular type of feedback
KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF SUPPORTIVE COMMUNICATION

7.Equality oriented. “I have Superiority oriented.

some ideas, but do you have “Your suggestion is dumb.
any suggestions?” This is the way to handle this
problem.”

8.Flexible. “I have some Closed-minded. “What-

questions, but let’s explore ever made you think that
it further.” would work?”

9.Appropriately intimate. Overbearing or aloof.

“Since we have known each “I know we just met, but I
other a long time, I’d like really need to tell you
to tell you how I feel about something personal.”
our relationship.”
 Essential of effective communication
Principle of clarity in ideas
Principle of appropriate language
Principle of attention
Principle of consistency
Principle of adequacy
Principle of proper time
Principle of informality
Principle of feedback
Principle of integration
Principle of consultation
Principle of economy
Principle of proper medium
 Raju Raju sat on the wall...
The classic case of Raju Raju had a great fall...
miscommunication Balance sheet died...
Shareholders cried...

Raju Raju made a fraud

THANK YOU