Barriers to

effective
communication
Types of communication barriers
PHYSICAL
BARRIER

MECHANICAL PSYCHOLOGICAL
BARRIER BARRIER

LINGUISTIC/ SOCIO-
SEMANTIC CULTURAL
BARRIER BARRIER

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 Mechanical barrier
It is caused because of the defect in the mechanical
device or some technical fault

Lack of ink Faulty Power

while printing instrument Failure
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 Dead/
Defective
Telephone

Faulty
Fax
Machine

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 Physical Barrier
Physical barriers relate to the external disturbances
like ‘NOISE, TIME, DISTANCE’

Noise Pollution….Can’t communicate

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 Time related
barrier
Examples –
1. Different shifts
2. Meeting or phone call at
wrong time
These time related issues
may affect the
communication process

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Distance related
barrier
Examples –
1. Faulty sitting
arrangement at office
may create
communication gaps
2. A boss can minimize
status difference
between himself and
employees
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External factors
also act as
physical barriers
Examples –
> Dim light in the
classroom
> Background Noise
> Too high or too cold
temperatures

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 Psychological/ emotional
barrier
These barriers occur due to
defective thinking, wrong
mindset, impatience, prejudice
and many other reasons
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Examples of psychological barrier
Impatience
among
sender and
receiver

Day
dreaming
on the part
of receiver

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Examples of psychological barrier

Prejudice

Negative
Emotions

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 Examples of psychological barrier

Aversion to
Narrow- change
mindedness
Halo and
Horns
Lack of Effect
retention
Closed
Mind

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Physical Barriers to
communication are ______
a.Time and distance.
B. interpretation of words.
c.Denotations.
d.Connotations.
.Listening, reading, speaking
and writing are all types of :
a. Communication skills.
b. Emotional barriers.
c. Evaluation techniques.
d. Nonverbal communication .
Communication barriers are;
a. A receiver's response to a message.
b. Avenues through which messages are
delivered.
c. Obstacles that interfere with the
understanding of a message.
d. The circumstances under which
communication takes place.
Linguistic barrier
> Language barrier occurs when the
sender and receiver do not share a
common code
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 Factors that cause Language Barrier

Use of short-cuts in spellings People speaking

or slang language different languages

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Factors that cause Language Barrier
Other factors –

1. Use of Jargons

2. Dialect
differences

3. Grammar and
No clarity in speech can
spelling
distort communication

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Socio-Cultural barrier
Challenges in communication that arise mainly
because of different cultures who have
different cultural beliefs

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 Socio-Cultural barrier

Generational - Status and Resistance –

Each age grup has different Difficult to accustomed to workplace
approach to work due to status and seniority issues

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 Socio-Cultural barrier
Ethnocentrism –
1. People of some community may
categorize their culture as in-group and
out-group
2. There is always greater preference to
in-group. There prevails an illusion that
out-group as inferior or evil

Cultural differences while

communicating

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QUIZ TIME –

Mike, Operations Manager for Solar Solutions, has had

communication difficulties about the daily production of steel in
his meetings with James, one of the shift supervisors. Assuming
this is an issue of hierarchy, the barrier they face is related to
_____

• Gender Differences

• Language Differences

• Status Differences

• Cultural Differences
QUIZ TIME –

A U.S. marketing manager is irritated that his counterpart in

Japan limited eye contact during a recent visit to his facility.
Eye contact is a sign of attentiveness to one but represents
inappropriate behavior to the other. What type of barrier is
this?

• Cultural

• Gender

• Physical Separation

• Language

• Status
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Ways to overcome Mechanical Barrier
• Ensure good working conditions – A
communicator should ensure that the
microphone or the projector is functioning
properly

• Arrange adequate backup – If power-cuts are

frequent, then organizations should provide
for adequate back-up so that the work is not
affected
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Ways to overcome Physical Barrier
• Minimize noise – Though it is not possible to
eliminate noise completely, it can definitely
be minimized. Organizations located in cities
or noisy places can make sound proof
arrangements

• Use of technology – Use of technology and

modern communication techniques like video
conferencing can combat distance barrier
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Ways to overcome Physical Barrier
• Mutual adjustment – With mutual adjustment,
the problem of different time zones can be
worked out. Both parties can communicate at
a mutually accepted time

• Streamline procedures – In large

organizations, unnecessary delays can be
avoided by streamlining procedures

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Ways to overcome Semantic/Linguistic Barrier
• Learn new Languages – If a person is
relocating or visiting a new place, then learn
new languages. At least knowing some key
words would aid communication

• Speak Slowly and Clearly – Focus on speaking

clearly and slowing down your speech

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Ways to overcome Semantic/Linguistic Barrier
• Ask for clarification – Sometimes people
assume the message even if they haven’t
understood the message and interpret it
according to their convenience

• Limit the use of jargon – Limit the use of

technical terms and other organizational
language that may not be understood by
others
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Ways to overcome Semantic/Linguistic Barrier
• Provide information via multiple channels –
Presentations could be followed up with
written material or phone calls with emails

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Ways to overcome Socio-Cultural barriers
• Study the culture before communicating – Do
not include terms or references which are
exclusively related to your culture
• Respect others – Respect people from other
cultures – their customs, values and beliefs
• Keep an open mind – Avoid being judgemental
about the food habits, social practices,
dressing or behaviour of people

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Ways to overcome Psychological barriers
• Keep an open mind – Never make assumptions
about people. Accept people and situations
with an open mind

• Be open to change – Develop ideas without

being rigid abut your own perception. Avoid
making pre-mature judgements about people

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Ways to overcome Psychological barriers
• Be sensitive – Be sensitive to the emotional
state and value systems of people

• Build on positive experience – Learn from

past unfavourable experiences and try to
create new positive experiences to improve
communication

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Ways to overcome Psychological barriers
• Accept yourself and others – Feel
comfortable and secure about your own
capabilities and accept the capabilities of
others

• Open Communication – Effective

communicator does not wait till resistance
builds up against an intended change or
innovation
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 Thanks!
Any questions?

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