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Barriers to Communication

Your soul blossoms to the Light as a flower opens to the sun.

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Barriers in communication indicate: Obstacles Difficulties that obstruct access to

communication Also known as ‘noise’ Barriers and malfunctions operate almost

simultaneously By careful observation one can easily

identify the context at three particular communication situations:

at the point of reception in perception in acceptanceWhenever things become difficult we must remain quiet

and silent.

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Table: Barriers and MalfunctionsIn Reception In Perception In Acceptance

1. Hostility and prejudice mainly amongst listeners

Communicators not careful about possible distortions

Receivers not interested

2. Communicators themselves are not sure communicators

Communicators fail to put ideas into words

Culture of managerial toughness in some organisation

3. Attitude of arrogance on both sides

Listening and two-way dialogues are not used

Disagreement and criticism are frowned upon

4. Receiver’s needs, desires and expectations not considered

Problems of language or ambiguity in expression

Interpersonal conflicts between sender and receiver

Do not think of what you have been, think only of what you want to be and you are sure to progress.

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Kinds of Barriers

Intrapersonal

Psychological

Socio-cultural

Interpersonal

Physical

Technical

Semantic

Organisational

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Intrapersonal Barrier

Which occurs from within

Caused due to differences in experience, education, value and personality

Each of us interpret the same information in different ways

When mind is still, then truth gets her chance to be heard in the purity of the silence.

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Psychological Barriers

Inferiority Complex

Superiority Complex

Wrong AssumptionsLeads to distorted communication

Are made because sender does not have adequate knowledge about receiver’s background

Categorical Thinking“I know it all” people-pansophists

Refuse to accept any further information

Overuse of words-all, always, everything, everytimeDo not belong to the past dawns, but to the noons of

future

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Socio-cultural Barriers Also known as cross cultural barriers

Cultural background affects how individuals view the world

What they value, how they interact with others

We grow in a culture that provides a pattern of acceptable behaviour and beliefs

It is the background against which all our actions and beliefs become meaningful

Culture can be seen the way we live, the clothes we wear and the opinions we hold

Culture is communication and communication is culture….. Edward Hall

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Socio-cultural Barriers

Differences in cultural values and perceptions can be an invisible source of great misunderstanding between people of different regions.

Some differences:

Heart vs. mind

Particularists vs. Universalists

Specific vs. diffused relationships

Nepotism vs. meritocracy

Hire-and-fire Policy

Individualism

Notion of Time

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Interpersonal Barriers

Caused due to external factors

Can occur between two or more people

or organizations

Three kinds:Physical

Semantic

Technical

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Physical Barrier

The environment in which communication occurs

The physical conditions

Can generally be eliminated or reduced

If meticulous preparation is done

A smile acts upon difficulties as the sun upon clouds—it disperses them,

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Physical Barriers

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Semantic Barriers Semantics is related to meanings of

words.

To be more exact, it is related to connotative and denotative meanings of words and its study.

Every word has a direct meaning called the denotative meaning.

In addition to its exact or lexical meaning, words also acquire implied meanings called connotative meanings.

Thy smile within my heart makes all my strength.

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Also known as linguistic barrier

Related to words, choice of words

Differences in languages and their perceptions

Word choice

Connotation

Implications

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Semantic Barrier/Word Choice

Beside/ Besides

Continuously/Continually

Do not use cell phones inside the lab.

Do not use cell phones in side lab.

The project is all ready to launch.

The project is already to launch.

We are working on the project all together.

We are working on the project altogether.

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Semantic Barrier/Connotation

It is a meaning based on: Experiences

Interests

Attitudes

Emotions

It can also be sarcasm

Example:

“Well, that certainly was fast work.”

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Semantic Barrier/Connotation

The solution lies in using:Simple

Familiar words

Progress: to be ready, at every minute, to give up all one is and all one has in order to advance on the way.

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Compare the following text pieces:Although all metals react

with oxygen, their reactivity is different. Some metals, such as sodium and potassium, react with oxygen trenchantly. They ignite even if retained unenclosed in the air. Magnesium needs to be inflamed before it combines with oxygen. Once inflamed to an ignition temperature, magnesium ribbon blazes with fire, yielding intense heat and light.

Although all metals react with oxygen, their reactivity is different. Some metals, such as sodium and potassium, react with oxygen vigorously. They catch fire even if kept open in the air. Magnesium needs to be heated before it combines with oxygen. Once heated to an ignition temperature, magnesium ribbon burns, producing intense heat and light.Trenchantly, ignite, unenclosed, inflamed, blazes,

yielding

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List of some commonly used words and their plain equivalents

Complex Simple Complex Simple

abandon Give up unscramble interpret

ablaze On fire amenable Responsive

commence begin dissuade discourage

confer grant futile useless

bespeak suggest inexorable unstoppable

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Implications

Related to connotation

Is a meaning given through connotation rather than from specific details

Eg.

Drawn from words:

My work is under valued.

My salary isn’t high enough.

I don’t get enough positive feedback from my

supervisors.

statement

inference

Actual meaning of

the statement

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Drawn from actions:

The supervisor infers that

workers are making fun

of him.

Two employees laugh as

their supervisor

passes.

The workers however

wanted to signal that

their morale is high.

More likely, to

signal nothing at

all

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Technical Barriers

Faulty instruments

Lack of Technical knowledge

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Organizational Barriers

Information Overload

Frequent Transfers

Complex Communication Channels

Fear of Superiors

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Information Overload

IO has a serious effect on the communication quality.

It refers to difficulty a person can have in understanding an issue and making decisions that can be caused by the presence of too much information.

IO leads to people getting jammed with message handling to the detriment of other activities.

A typical business manger is said to read one million words per week.

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Overcoming Barriers to Communication

Identify the reason for communication failure.

Take pre-emptive measures to overcome it.

Try to bridge the gap.

Respond to the context and content of the person’s words and deeds, rather than assumed motives.

Understand the limitations of people from different backgrounds.

Avoid hot buttons like ethnic jokes, racist comments, gender-biased statements etc.

28Perfection is not a maximum or an extreme. It is an

equilibrium and harmonization.

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