Communication for Professionals

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Noise/Interference in Communication Processes

Communications, even those composed with a carefully-applied process approach, can still go awry in terms of your audience
understanding your message in the way you intended. Interference in communication is often called “noise.” Noise can be physical
noise, such as a loud hallway conversation, but it can also be caused by many other sources. The act of communication can be derailed
by the following types of noise, which de ect your audience’s focus away from your message:

Physical noise
Physiological noise
Technical noise
Organizational noise
Cultural noise
Psychological noise
Semantic noise (language, words)

Physical Noise

Physical noise is interference that comes from an external source, or the environment in which the communication is occurring. Static
on a phone call, meeting rooms in a building near an airport’s ight path, conversations during a presentation, not muting your sound
while typing during an online meeting all constitute physical noise. Physical noise also can be non-auditory in nature. Pop-ups create
visual noise in an online environment, just as a co-worker gesturing outside of your o ce window while you are in an online meeting
creates visual noise. Sometimes you can control physical noise, as in asking directly at the start of on online meeting for participants to
mute their sound when they are not talking. Other times you will have no control over physical noise. As a communicator, realize that
you’ll need to be prepared to deal with physical noise.

Some strategies to help your audience understand your message, even with physical noise present, include repeating key information,
following up an in-person meeting or presentation with an emailed summary, or repeating questions that participants ask during an
online meeting.

Physiological Noise

Physiological noise deals with your own abilities to see and hear, your state of health, whether you are tired or hungry at the time of the
communication, or any of many di erent physiological issues that can interfere with paying attention to a message. While you cannot
do much as a communicator to allay other individuals’ physiological noise, you can pick up visual cues during in-person, real-time
communications and adjust your message accordingly. For example, you can speak more slowly or loudly, or be more succinct if you
see your audience’s interest waning before lunch. For both in-person and electronic communications, you can o er electronic versions
of your information to audience members who may need to increase font size. Be aware that physiological noise exists, and be
prepared to adjust to the communication situation and your audience’s needs.

Technical Noise

Technical equipment issues can interfere with your audience receiving and understanding your message. Online or video conferencing
equipment may not work for everyone, connectivity may be slow, or servers may go down. To reduce technical noise, make sure that
you practice with the equipment you need to use, and have a back-up plan for communicating lengthy or very important messages
using a lower-tech format.

Organizational Noise

Organizational noise can occur if you are unaware of, or disregard, expected communication channels in your organization. Some
organizations are structured so that employees at certain levels only communicate with employees at similar levels, while other
organizations are less structured with their communication channels. As a communicator, make sure you understand your
organizational culture as much as possible. Don’t be afraid to ask peers or supervisors about appropriate channels of communication so
that others focus on your message and not the route or persons to whom it was sent.

Cultural Noise

Cultural noise occurs when cultural expectations, etiquette, attitudes, and values di er. Many di erent cultures exist based on
nationalities, ages, genders, regions, social positions, work groups, and more, and individuals belong to multiple cultures. As a
communicator, your task is to try to reduce cultural noise by being as informed as possible about your communication audience; trying
to anticipate and address questions from other points of view; and using inclusive, non-biased language.

TRY IT

The following video was created by Japanese students to teach the concept of noise. From your perspective as a student in
the U.S., what would create cultural noise for you if you were on assignment in Japan as a new hire in this organization?

After viewing the video, consider what you might do as a communicator to reduce cultural noise for a new hire from Japan who
is now working in your organization in the U.S.

Psychological Noise

Psychological noise occurs as a result of personal attitudes, assumptions, and biases. People have particular perspectives and world
views; communication noise occurs when content, language, and perceived attitudes of the communicator and the audience do not
mesh. Just as with cultural noise, your task as a communicator dealing with psychological noise is to realize that people will interpret
your message di erently, depending on their own perspectives. Try to reduce psychological noise by o ering your communication very
clearly and directly, using inclusive and unbiased language, and responding calmly and thoughtfully to questions and issues raised.

Semantic Noise

Semantic noise deals with words and language. Is the language of the communication clear and easy to understand? Is it free from
professional jargon (if the audience is at a low or mixed level of professional understanding)? Are abstract concepts backed up by
concrete examples? Is the language free from grammatical and technical errors? Are the sentences clear in their structure and easy to
read or listen to? Are concepts o ered in an order logical to the communication’s purpose and appropriate to its audience? Is there too
much information, and/or are there too many words? All of these language issues, however small, can derail focus from the content of
your message. As an example, you may have read documents in which the writer consistently uses “its/it’s” incorrectly, or you may have
listened to speakers who constantly say “uh” while speaking. Have you found yourself more focused on counting the “its” or the “uhs”
more than listening to the message?

EXAMPLE OF SEMANTIC & CULTURAL NOISE

Cultural expressions and expectations di er not only internationally, but also on many di erent dimensions from regional to
interpersonal.

Someone raised in a rural environment in the Paci c Northwest may have a very di erent interpretation of “downtown” from
someone raised in New York City. To the rural resident, downtown refers to a place, such as the center or urban area of any big
city, no matter where that place is located. To a person who lives in or near New York City, though, downtown may be a
direction that is more southerly, more than a place. One can go uptown, toward the Metropolitan Museum, or downtown,
toward the 9/11 Memorial. When asked, “Where are you from?,” a New Yorker’s answer may refer to a di erent sort of place
such as a borough (“I grew up in Manhattan”) or a neighborhood (“I’m from the East Village”).

This example involves people with geographical di erences, but we can further subdivide between people raised in the same
state from two regions, people of the opposite sex, or people from di erent generations. The combinations and possibilities for
semantic and cultural noise, or other types of noise, are endless.

As a communicator, you should work to eliminate semantic noise through careful revision. Also, whenever possible, request feedback
from others to determine whether your audience understands your language in the way you intended.

The following video delves more fully into semantic and psychological noise.

Summary

The following video reviews many types of noise that can derail focus from your communication. However, the video itself contains
some noise—see if you can nd it, and consider the e ect it has on you.

LICENSES AND ATTRIBUTIONS

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