Question: Discuss any 5 barriers to effective listening, highlighting how they may be

minimized.

Listening is an essential component of the communication process which comprises hearing,

attention, understanding, remembering and responding. Any disturbance in the listening process
which leads to the message not being received as intended is a barrier. In other words, barriers
are obstacles or factors that affect effective listening for one to really hear and understand a
message. There are various barriers within the communication line which often lead to
communication breakdown. This essay elaborates on some of these barriers focusing on those
that are linguistic, cultural, physical, psychological and emotional in nature. Ways to minimise
the impact of these barriers are also explored below.

To begin with, language is one of the barriers that can significantly impact effective listening
thereby hindering understanding and creating misunderstandings. According to Linch (2011),
when individuals do not share a common language or have limited proficiency in a particular
language, it becomes challenging to convey thoughts, ideas, and emotions accurately. This can
manifest in academic contexts with lecturers using vernacular languages where all students are
not conversant with the languages. It may also manifest through use of complex vocabulary,
unexplained abbreviations and slang. To minimize language barriers, several strategies have been
suggested by scholars. First, using simple and clear language helps ensure comprehension.
Fielding (2006) suggests avoiding unexplained jargon, technical terms, or complex sentence
structures in order to enhance understanding. Abbate (2020) on the other hand proposes
displaying patience, active listening, and asking for clarification when needed. In addition,
interacting with others in a way that is formal encourages honesty and openness thereby ensuring
minimal barriers.

Barriers may also be cultural in nature. Cultural barriers may affect effective listening through
factors such as differences in religion, ethnicity, social status, as well as traditions (Bonet, 2004).
Different laws, customs and social norms can be contributing factors of cultural barriers. If one is
not aware of the cultural differences between the individuals having a conversation, it may lead
to discomfort and misunderstanding by the listener. For example, touching a person of another
gender maybe through a handshake can lead to discomfort by that person whereas in other
cultures one can give a handshake as a sign for greeting. Some symptoms of cultural barriers can
be shown by team members avoiding one another and engaging in stereotyping, ostracizing, or
other ethnocentric behaviors. Bonet (2004) suggests that cultural differences must be shared to
participants in interactions and they should be encouraged to appreciate different values.
Routine sensitivity training sessions and, where necessary, one-on-one consultations to resolve
any lingering issues are essential. Linch (2011) suggests the promotion of a sense of belonging
and dissolving cultural boundaries by establishing a culture that places a strong emphasis on a
common set of values in organisations.

Physical barriers can also affect effective listening. Lynch (2011) regards physical barriers as
hindrances that prevent or block the listener from hearing what is being spoken. Examples of
physical barriers include noise, obstruction and distance. Fielding (2006) describes physical
barriers as external noise which occurs in the environment of where the listener is. These can be
characterized by the sound of traffic outside a window, a construction site close, a jet airplane
flying past a lecture room or people talking loudly from another office. Physical obstructions
could further be a person sitting in between two people who are trying to have a conversation
such as a person standing in front thereby blocking others in a lecture room. According to
Fielding’s (2006) definition, in these days of online learning, networks can also be a physical
barrier which may result in people not getting along with each other well. Abbate (2020)
identifies distance as another form of physical barrier, for example, one is not able to hear
clearly if they are not sitting close to the speaker, or if there is a bad connection on a
long-distance telephone call. Therefore, the further the people having conversation are away
from one another the more difficult it is to hear clearly. Brown (2011) suggests that physical
barriers can be minimized by making thorough preparations on the venue or context of
conversations. This includes making sure that chairs and desks are spatially arranged, the venue
is away from outside noises and it is also noise proof in terms of the roof and neighbouring
rooms. Fielding (2006) suggests ways of minimising physical noise focusing on the speaker
where the scholar recommends that they speak loudly and eloquently for listeners to understand.

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Further, negative and positive emotions can hinder effective listening. Abbate (2020) avers that
emotional triggers can be certain words, topics, or experiences. These may trigger emotional
responses that hinder listening and comprehension. Anxiety, excitement, stress, sadness or anger
can also divert attention away from the speaker's message which may affect listening. An
example is of a topic on physical abuse which may trigger emotions out of the listener’s
recollection of a past experience. In order to minimise the impact of the emotional barrier,
scholars have suggested focusing on being present in the conversation and consciously setting
aside personal emotions to create space for active listening (Brown, 2011; Lynch, 2011). Lynch
(2011) observes that listeners should also develop emotional self-regulation skills to manage
triggers. These include having abilities to pause to acknowledge and process emotions internally
and later, returning to the conversation with a renewed focus on listening and understanding,
rather than reacting impulsively. Fielding (2006) also proposes that the listener affected by this
barrier should first identify the root cause of the emotional barrier, then seek support from others.
Also, use of visualization and positive affirmations as well as finally seeking professional help
is another remedy.

Psychological barriers can also hinder effective listening (Bonet, 2004). Psychological barriers
are similar to emotional barriers; the difference is that emotional barriers are based on feelings
while psychological barriers are based on thoughts. Bonet (2004) explains that listeners may tend
to assume they know what the speaker wants to say or judge the person they are listening to, or
even think of what they are going to say next. All these are psychological barriers to effective
listening. Abbate (2020) gives the example of one thinking about their response whilst the
speaker is still talking which can reduce the ability to effectively listen since one will be focusing
more on the response than listening. In addition, Fielding (2006) identifies factors such as
attitudes against subject matter and speaker, stereotyped view of speaker, depression and anxiety
as some other barriers that can hinder effective listening. According to Fielding (2006),
psychological barriers can be overcome by carefully monitoring one's listening habits and
replacing ineffective habits with more productive ones. The listener should focus on grasping the
main ideas of the speaker and avoid jumping to conclusions prematurely. In addition, Bonet

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(2004) suggests that it is also important to maintain objectivity, open-mindedness, and
attentiveness to minimize listening barriers.

In conclusion, for every barrier to effective listening there is a remedy to improve successful
communication between speaker and listener from both sides. To minimize barriers that hinder
effective listening, it is crucial to first recognize and acknowledge their existence. Once aware of
these barriers, one can take proactive steps to eliminate them. This will result in effective
listening skills.

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References

Abbate, A. (2020) ‘CustomersFirst Academy’ Best Online Customer Service Training &
Certifications. Available at: https://customersfirstacademy.com/ (Accessed: 13 September 2023).

Bonet, D. (2004) The Business of Listening: A Practical Guide to Effective Listening. London:
Viva Books Private.

Brown, G. (2011). Listening to spoken English. London: Routledge publishing.

Fielding, M. (2006). Effective Communication. Capetown: Juta & Co publishers

Lynch, T. (2011). Academic listening in the 21st century: Reviewing a decade of research.
Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 10(2), 79-88.

Mohammad, H. A.(2020). ‘The Impact of Cultural Background on Listening Comprehension of

Saudi EFL Students’. Arab World English Journal (AWEJ) Vol. 11. No.3 Pp. 349- 371.

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