BARRIERS IN BARRIERS IN COMMUNICATIONCOMMUNICATION

Barriers to Effective Barriers to Effective CommunicationCommunication

Communication is a two way process. Communication is a two way process. Barriers are the hurdles or difficulties Barriers are the hurdles or difficulties that come in the way of Effective that come in the way of Effective Communication.Communication.

There is no perfect communication free There is no perfect communication free of all barriers.of all barriers.

Barriers to CommunicationBarriers to Communication

Caution has to be exercised as barriers to Caution has to be exercised as barriers to communication are either consciously or communication are either consciously or unconsciously erected either by the receiver or the unconsciously erected either by the receiver or the sender sender

These hamper the growth of communication and These hamper the growth of communication and relegate it to the status of a conversation where relegate it to the status of a conversation where feedback is not expected.feedback is not expected.

Badly Expressed MessageBadly Expressed Message (Loss of impact) (Loss of impact)

Improper formulation and presentation of Improper formulation and presentation of message can have negative impact on the message can have negative impact on the receiverreceiver

Lack of comprehension leads to Lack of comprehension leads to misunderstanding misunderstanding

Loss of transmissionLoss of transmission(Ineffective grasp of message)(Ineffective grasp of message)

Ineffective transmission channelsIneffective transmission channels While speaking on telephone an important While speaking on telephone an important

message to be delivered there is message to be delivered there is disturbance in the line which would disturbance in the line which would deprive the message of the deprive the message of the communication impact.communication impact.

Poor RetentionPoor Retention(Dichotomy in reception and comprehension)(Dichotomy in reception and comprehension)

Inability to retain by the receiver causes Inability to retain by the receiver causes confusion and can lead to confusion and can lead to misunderstanding.misunderstanding.

If ideas are contrary to his expectations If ideas are contrary to his expectations they create a sense of uncertainty in the they create a sense of uncertainty in the mind of receiver.mind of receiver.

Inattentive ListeningInattentive Listening (Partial grasp of topic) (Partial grasp of topic)

Partial or marginal listening can distort the Partial or marginal listening can distort the intent of the message.intent of the message.

Listening is a process which demands full Listening is a process which demands full attention to be paid to spoken word.attention to be paid to spoken word.

Any kind of noise can make the receiver Any kind of noise can make the receiver lose out on an important aspect of the lose out on an important aspect of the spoken material. spoken material.

Tendency to EvaluateTendency to Evaluate (Distancing from the speaker)(Distancing from the speaker)

Evaluating the spoken contentEvaluating the spoken content Part of the concentration is lost in weighing Part of the concentration is lost in weighing

the pros and cons of the spoken material.the pros and cons of the spoken material. The listener should have total The listener should have total

concentration and the listening skills should concentration and the listening skills should be honed, if the listener is desirous of be honed, if the listener is desirous of making a mark in the effective making a mark in the effective communication process.communication process.

Interest and AttitudesInterest and Attitudes (Lack of interest)(Lack of interest)

If conflicting interests and attitudes of the If conflicting interests and attitudes of the receiver clash with those of the sender, receiver clash with those of the sender, problem arise.problem arise.

Transmission and reception are Transmission and reception are contingent upon the mental frame of the contingent upon the mental frame of the sender and receiver. sender and receiver.

Conflicting InformationConflicting Information(Mental turbulence)(Mental turbulence)

Receiver has already some informationReceiver has already some information

on which he expects to build up an area on which he expects to build up an area after his communication with the speaker, after his communication with the speaker, if the two information does not match and if the two information does not match and are diametrically opposite the receiver is are diametrically opposite the receiver is left pondering over the reliability and left pondering over the reliability and validity of the original and current piece of validity of the original and current piece of information.information.

Semantic ProblemSemantic Problem(Misunderstanding)(Misunderstanding)

Misunderstanding due to semanticsMisunderstanding due to semantics Spoken language should be easily Spoken language should be easily

comprehensible to the receiver.comprehensible to the receiver. Simple language and minimal use of long Simple language and minimal use of long

or convoluted sentences.or convoluted sentences. Brevity and Simplicity are the strategies Brevity and Simplicity are the strategies

which should be adhered.which should be adhered.

Over –CommunicationOver –Communication(Groping for the right message )(Groping for the right message )

The quantum of the material should be just The quantum of the material should be just rightright

Excess can lead to information load.Excess can lead to information load.

The delivery of the spoken material shouldThe delivery of the spoken material should

precise .precise .

Differing status, position and Differing status, position and self experienceself experience

(Superior attitude)(Superior attitude)

This may lead to discrepancies in the This may lead to discrepancies in the understandings of the message .understandings of the message .

There arises a mismatch in the There arises a mismatch in the transmission and acceptance of ideas and transmission and acceptance of ideas and concepts floated.concepts floated.

PrejudicesPrejudices(Biased Listening)(Biased Listening)

Interacting with a biasInteracting with a bias

Having thoughts like “I know more than is Having thoughts like “I know more than is required” or “Whatever the speaker is required” or “Whatever the speaker is saying is redundant”saying is redundant”

““I” AttitudeI” Attitude(Lack of collaborative effort )(Lack of collaborative effort )

If I attitude is to be changed to you or we If I attitude is to be changed to you or we attitude, issues are relatively simplified.attitude, issues are relatively simplified.

The impression conveyed is that the The impression conveyed is that the speaker is not leading the interaction or speaker is not leading the interaction or speaking from a higher pedestal.speaking from a higher pedestal.

Resistance to ChangeResistance to Change(Mental Block)(Mental Block)

Change is a process of life and one has to Change is a process of life and one has to accept change.accept change.

One needs to change or reinforce the One needs to change or reinforce the existing ideas in communication which is existing ideas in communication which is an ongoing activity.an ongoing activity.

Being resistant to issues which are Being resistant to issues which are contrary to already existing ideas hampers contrary to already existing ideas hampers the process of communication. the process of communication.

Refutations and ArgumentsRefutations and Arguments(Lack of provision of correct feedback)(Lack of provision of correct feedback)

Gearing oneself for refutation and Gearing oneself for refutation and arguments merely to score victory over the arguments merely to score victory over the speaker can divert the concentration of the speaker can divert the concentration of the receiver.receiver.

Cost of miscommunication is high in terms Cost of miscommunication is high in terms of efficiency, time and money. It could lead of efficiency, time and money. It could lead to indiscipline, misunderstanding, hostility to indiscipline, misunderstanding, hostility and distortion of relationships.and distortion of relationships.

CASE STUDY - ICASE STUDY - I

Mr. & Mrs. SharmaMr. & Mrs. Sharma

……..went to a shop to buy a shirt ..went to a shop to buy a shirt for himselffor himself

Mr. Sharma selected the shirt but Mr. Sharma selected the shirt but didn't read the price on the price didn't read the price on the price

tag……...tag……...

Sir, Rs 950

How much for this shirt?

Mean while, Mrs. Sharma, who was still Mean while, Mrs. Sharma, who was still shopping came back and joined her shopping came back and joined her

husband. husband.

There is 25% discount

Yes!

……..Mr. Sharma was thrilled to hear ..Mr. Sharma was thrilled to hear that.that.

He decided to buyHe decided to buyone more shirt.one more shirt.

He returned with He returned with new black shirtnew black shirt and asked to and asked to pack them. pack them.

It’ll cost me Rs 645.

Why notbuy 2 shirts.

When he received the cash memo for When he received the cash memo for payment, he was surprised to find that payment, he was surprised to find that

he had to pay Rs.1900 and not he had to pay Rs.1900 and not Rs.1290.Rs.1290.

Rs 1900, Sir

…….Counter person had quoted the .Counter person had quoted the discounted of price that is Rs. 950. The discounted of price that is Rs. 950. The original price printed on the price tag original price printed on the price tag

was Rs.1225.was Rs.1225.

QuestionsQuestions

Identify the sources of Mr. Sharma’s Identify the sources of Mr. Sharma’s informationinformation??

Who is to be blameed for that Who is to be blameed for that communication gap? Why?communication gap? Why?

What should have been done to avoid that What should have been done to avoid that misunderstanding? By whom? misunderstanding? By whom?

Identify the sources of Mr. Identify the sources of Mr. Sharma’s informationSharma’s information????

Price tagPrice tag Lady shopkeeperLady shopkeeper Counter personCounter person His wifeHis wife

Who is to be blamed for that Who is to be blamed for that communication gap? Why?communication gap? Why?

The Lady shopkeeper who was The Lady shopkeeper who was with Mr.Sharma when he was with Mr.Sharma when he was selecting the shirt. When he selecting the shirt. When he asked the price of the shirt at asked the price of the shirt at that time the shopkeeper that time the shopkeeper should have told him about the should have told him about the discount and the original price.discount and the original price.

What should have been What should have been done to avoid that done to avoid that misunderstanding?misunderstanding?

By whom? By whom?

CASE STUDY - IICASE STUDY - II

A Case of Misunderstood A Case of Misunderstood MessageMessage

Indane biscuits factory employs labour on a Indane biscuits factory employs labour on a daily basis. The management does not follow daily basis. The management does not follow statutory regulations and are able to get statutory regulations and are able to get away with violations by keeping the away with violations by keeping the inspectors in good books.inspectors in good books.

Factory has designated a room to which Factory has designated a room to which employees are called either to hire or to fire.employees are called either to hire or to fire.

Indane biscuits decided to celebrate National Indane biscuits decided to celebrate National Safety Day. Safety Day. Cont…..Cont…..

……..cont..cont

The Personnel Manager sent a memo The Personnel Manager sent a memo requesting all supervisors to be present in requesting all supervisors to be present in the room meant for hiring and firing. the room meant for hiring and firing. Supervisors got panicky thinking that now it Supervisors got panicky thinking that now it was their turn to get fired. Everybody struck was their turn to get fired. Everybody struck work and the factory came to a grinding haltwork and the factory came to a grinding halt

When the Personnel Manager came to know When the Personnel Manager came to know of it, he went and tried to convince the of it, he went and tried to convince the supervisors about the purpose of inviting supervisors about the purpose of inviting them.them.

……..cont...cont.

He also told them the reason why that He also told them the reason why that particular room was chosen. He had particular room was chosen. He had selected that room because no other selected that room because no other room was available. Nobody was in mood room was available. Nobody was in mood to listen.to listen.

The Managing Director also could not The Managing Director also could not convince workers.convince workers.

……..cont..cont

The matter was referred to the labour The matter was referred to the labour department. The enquiry resulted in all department. The enquiry resulted in all irregularities of the factory getting irregularities of the factory getting exposed and imposition of heavy exposed and imposition of heavy penalties. The Personnel manager was penalties. The Personnel manager was sacked.sacked.

Questions??Questions??

In the case of Indane Biscuits, bring out the In the case of Indane Biscuits, bring out the importance of ‘context’ and ‘credibility’ in importance of ‘context’ and ‘credibility’ in communication.communication.

List out the direct and indirect causes for the List out the direct and indirect causes for the escalation of tension at the Indane Biscuits.escalation of tension at the Indane Biscuits.

If you were the Personnel Manager what would If you were the Personnel Manager what would you do?you do?