Topic 8 Communication barriers
When communicating, watch out for possible communication barriers:
- Physical barriers–closed doors that interfere with teamwork, noise that disturbs a meeting, distance that may cause defects in communication, etc.
- Semantic and language barriers –lack of clarity, words with multiple meanings, not being specific
- Socio-psychological barriers –stress, distrust, different attitudes
- Organisational barriers –lack of communication policy, poorly defined responsibilities in the company
- Cross-cultural barriers –different mindset, values, concepts of time and space, meaning of gestures, etc.
Some barriers can be overcome by better organisation, others require good communication skills including active listening and empathy, questioning and reflection, effective speaking, storytelling, non-verbal communication.