‘barrier to communication’. Barriers prevent the communication to be effective. Miscommunication can originate at three levels: At the level of the transmitter Of the medium Or of the receiver. Disagreement between verbal and non-verbal messages Negative Self Image Lack of Feedback Lack of Motivation and Training Language and Vocabulary Level Lack of Self Awareness Selective Perception Unwillingness to Change Lack of Interest in the Topic/Subject Prejudice & Belief System Rebuttal Instincts Personal Value System Here-and-Now internal & external factors Mechanical Barriers Some Possible mechanical failures are: A weak microphone or poor sound spread of the meeting place. Defective telephone lines. Electricity/computer breakdown. Poor printing quality or paper, spread of link, overlap of colors. Atmospherics on radio or T.V, especially in cloudy weather. Wrong choice of medium- There are a variety of mediums to choose from: Oral Written Visual Audio-visual Computer-based. All these mediums have their merits and demerits. While a properly chosen medium can enhance the effectiveness of the communication, an unsuitable medium may act as a barrier. Physical Barriers Noise- is often a barrier to communication. Factory, External disturbances in telecom facilities, Poor writing, Bad photo-copies. Time and Distance- acts as a barrier in the smooth flow of information. People working in different shifts, Faulty seating arrangements. Poor Timing- communication at inappropriate timing reduces its effectiveness. Semantic Barriers- Science of meaning - Phonetics science of sound, Semantics – coding /decoding Language is the most important tool of communication. Problems arising from expression or transmission of meaning are called semantic barriers. Interpretation of words- communication is mainly carried through spoken or written words. Interpretation could be different for people depending on their social-economic, cultural and educational backgrounds. Denotationsand connotations- the literal meaning of the word is known by its denotative meaning. Positive or negative qualities, qualitative judgments and personal reactions are reflected by connotative meaning. They gave us cheap stuff At this shop, they sell things cheap Bad expression- When the message is not formulated and presented in a proper manner, the receiver fails to comprehend it and in turn misunderstanding occurs. A badly expressed message leads to loss of valuable time, money and resources. It requires further corrections and clarifications. Faulty translation- Inaccurate translation leads to misunderstanding and confusion. Unqualified assumptions- the sender of the message often makes some assumptions, which when vague and unknown to the receiver lead to barriers in communication. Poor vocabulary, lack of grammatical knowledge, wrong symbols, punctuation etc. Different comprehensions of reality- Reality is not a fixed concept; it is complex, infinite and constantly changing. No two people view reality in identical terms. Abstracting-focusing on some details while omitting others. It is important as well, as it saves time, space and money , however it poses a great danger as details that look relevant to one may appear insignificant to others , as a result misunderstandings arise. Editing and censorship are also abstracting. Slanting- bias or inclination to a particular toward a certain reality. Inferring-drawing conclusions from basic assumptions (see, hear, taste, touch and smell). Not based on facts and can therefore be erroneous and unwarranted. Socio-psychological barriers including cultural barriers- Selective Perception-‘I know it syndrome’, ‘waste of time’ Attitudes and Opinions Emotions- state at a particular time also affects communication. Cultural Diversity Closed mind Frame of reference The source of information Inattentiveness- sometimes we just do not listen, but only hear. Conflicting goals Faulty Transmission Poor retention- human memory cannot function beyond a certain limit. One can’t always retain fully what is being told specially if we are not attentive or not interested. A person of weak hearing or eyesight. The age of the listener. A person’s educational level. Gender Barriers. A wandering mind. Ideological loyalties. Loyalty to a brand or organization. Emotional states of the person. One’s Prejudice- A prejudice is the judgment formed without proper information. Fixed images about other people. Poor retention power is a barrier. Organizational Communication Barriers Organizational communication refers to sharing of ideas, views and concepts through available formal or informal communication media. It happens within a group, agency or enterprise. a. Flawed Structure- Lack of communication policy Poorly defined authority and responsibility Multiple levels in organizational structure b. Assumptions- Assumptions spell disaster for the success of organizational communication. • Presuming all the members of the organization have the same knowledge base as the message sender. • Information will spread accurately and effectively on it’s own after only one or two members receive it. c. Overdependence on Technology- Twitter, face book…. Instead of relying on formats that are trendy or attractive, a formal mode of communication needs to be selected to deliver the message to the employees and customers. d. Too much information (Communication Overload)- Simplicity is the key to effective organizational communication. Adding detail after detail can turn off the audience. Understand the idea, product, stick to two or three main points to get your point across. e. Misinterpretation- Understand the message clearly and accurately. When in doubt ask for clarifications. Organizational culture – impacts freedom and trust Organizational rules and regulations Status relationship Complexity in organizational structure Inadequate facilities and opportunities Lack of cooperation between senior and subordinate. Long chain of command- leads to the message passing through several levels leading to delays and distortions. Role Conflicts- Confusion about roles can create fiction between subordinates and superiors. Technological Barriers- • Lack of knowledge of technology • Advancement in technology • Noise • Fear of lack of security Plan your communication carefully Know the receiver Listen more; speak less Put yourself in others’ shoes Be careful of your tone Seek feedback and offer clarifications. Fostering good relationships Purposeful and well directed /focused Co-ordination between superior and subordinate Avoid technical language Accuracy Clarity in message Communication of organizational philosophy Flat organizational structure Division of labour Organizational policies Reduction of semantic problems Proper communication channels Mechanical And Physical Barriers Appropriate Seating arrangements Ensure visibility and availability Environmental comfort Minimum Visual and oral distractions Semantic Barriers Use of simple language Symbols and charts Active listening Constructive Feedback Socio-psychological Barriers Attention and motivation Assistance and Sympathy Organizational Barriers Simple organizational Structure Avoid information overload