Barriers to Communication

B.   BARRIERS TO COMMUNICATION
      There are 2 kinds of barriers of communication.
  * Found within the sender and the recipient
  * From outside influences in the communication process

  1. Barriers Caused by Sender and Recipient

  (a) Distortion
  * A process which occurs either at the stage if encoding or decoding the message
  * Can lead to incorrect understanding of the message or only partial compression of its meaning, by the recipient
  * Ideas are so complex to understand
  * The result of lack of concentration in either party
  * Encoding stage – Sender is responsible
  * Decoding stage – Recipient is responsible

  (b) Inadequate Communication Skills
  * Express idea clearly
  * Have ability to read – read works and interpret signs, symbols and body language

  (c) Lack of listening ability
  * Both are responsible

  (d) Attitudes
  * Attitudes to moral questions
  * Attitudes induced by different cultural backgrounds
  * If extreme – distort message and hamper communication

  (e) Incorrect information

  (f) Other Barriers
  1) Selective hearing – the recipient selects what they want to hear
  2) Information overload – too much technical information
  3) Contradictory non-verbal message – message and body language do not match

  2. Barriers Caused by Outside Influences (Noise)

  (a) Physical noise such as heavy-traffic, constantly-ringing telephones or people talking to you while you are reading a letter
  (b) A poor telephone connection or unreadable photocopying
  (c) Physical environment – right decoration, light or surroundings

  C. OVERCOMING THE BARRIERS

  a) Defining the Purpose
  * What you want the recipient to do in response
  * Know what not to say

  b) Knowing When and How to Communicate
  * Communicating with the right person
  * Judging the right moment to make a communication
  * Using the best kind of communication medium for a particular... [continues]

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