Barriers to effective communication By Luis Fernando Jaramillo Silva

 

There are many reasons why interpersonal communications may fail. In many communications, the message may not be received exactly the way the sender intended. It is, therefore, important that the communicator seeks feedback to check that their message is clearly understood.

There are many barriers to communication and these may occur at any stage in the communication process. Barriers may lead to your message becoming distorted and you therefore risk wasting both time and/or money by causing confusion and misunderstanding.

Effective communication involves overcoming these barriers and conveying a clear and concise message.

Common barriers to effective communication:

·      The use of jargon. Over-complicated, unfamiliar and/or technical terms.

·      Emotional barriers and taboos. Some people may find it difficult to express their emotions and some topics may be completely 'off-limits' or taboo. Taboo or difficult topics may include, but are not limited to, politics, religion, disabilities (mental and physical), sexuality and sex, racism and any opinion that may be seen as unpopular.

·      Lack of attention, interest, distractions, or irrelevance to the receiver.

·      Differences in perception and viewpoint.

·      Physical disabilities such as hearing problems or speech difficulties.

Reference

(2020, January). Barriers to effective communication. Skills you need. Retrieved from https://www.skillsyouneed.com/ips/barriers-communication