(i) Physical distraction- for instance, crowded rooms, poor ventilation and lighting, poor writing and harsh tone may prevent effective communication.
(ii) Cultural differences- for example, mother tongue interference, use of unfamiliar cultural information, words and gestures.
(iii) The language used may be too complex, too simplistic or too ambiguous.( not clear or has double meanings)
(iv) Barriers within the individual or the receiver-the receiver may be unfamiliar with the language used.
(v) The individual may perceive the information received differently from what was stated.
(vi) The receiver might have poor listening skills, they may be emotionally unstable, and sometimes they may be sick or tired.
(viii) Distortion-This is where due to misinterpretation and the distance between the sender and the receiver, message is altered as it passes from one point to another.
(ix) Selective listening- This is a case where based on the listeners need, fears, motives and interest, they choose to hear only a part of the message.
(x) Timing of the message- when a message sent is not timely it can be a hindrance, for example, when the message is sent too early or too late.
OR
(i) Language barrier.
It is important for the recipient to understand the language being used by the sender in communication.Language could be a barrier in case of use of foreign languages.
(ii) Poor listening
The effectiveness of communication will depend on the willingness of the recipient to listen carefully.
(iii) Wrong medium.The means of communication used must be appropriate for the information being conveyed otherwise wrong choice of medium will be a barrier to effective communication.
(iv) Noise.
It refers to any disturbing sound which may interfere with the listening ability of the recipient.The presence of the noise may make impossible for any message to received in the right way.
(v) Unclear systems within the organisations.If the channels of passing information in an organisation are not clear,then the message will not get to the right people for whom the message is intended.
OR
1. Muddled messages – Effective communication starts with a clear message. Contrast these two messages: “Please be here about 7:00 tomorrow morning.” “Please be here at 7:00 tomorrow morning.” The one word difference makes the first message muddled and the second message clear. Muddled messages are a barrier to communication because the receiver is left unclear about the intent of the sender. Muddled messages have many causes. The sender may be confused in his or her thinking. The message may be little more than a vague idea. The problem may be semantics, e.g., note this muddled newspaper ad: “Dog for sale. Will eat anything. Especially likes children. Call 888-3599 for more information.” Feedback from the receiver is the best way for a sender to be sure that the message is clear rather than muddled. Clarifying muddled messages is the responsibility of the sender. The sender hoping the receiver will figure out what was really meant does little to remove this barrier to communication.
2. Stereotyping – Stereotyping causes us to typify a person, a group, an event or a thing on oversimplified conceptions, beliefs, or opinions. Thus, basketball players can be typed as tall, green equipment as better than red equipment, football linemen as dumb, Ford as better than Chevrolet, Vikings as handsome, and people raised on swine farms as interested in animals. Stereotyping can substitute for thinking, analysis and open mindedness to a new situation.
Stereotyping is a barrier to communication when it causes people to act as if they already know the message that is coming from the sender or worse, as if no message is necessary because “everybody already knows.” Both senders and listeners should continuously look for and address thinking, conclusions and actions based on stereotypes.
3. Wrong channel – “Good morning.” An oral channel for this message is highly appropriate. Writing “GOOD MORNING!” on a chalk board in the machine shed is less effective tha n a warm oral greeting. On the other hand, a detailed request to a contractor for construction of a farrowing house should be in writing, i.e., non-oral. A long conversation between a pork producer and a contractor about the farrowing house construction, with neither taking notes, surely will result in confusion and misunderstanding. Similarly, several conversations between a father and son concerning a partnership and long-term plans for the business, with neither taking notes, surely will result in confusion and misunderstanding. It will also likely result in other family members not understanding what father and son have agreed to. These simple examples illustrate how the wrong channel can be a barrier to communication.
Variation of channels helps the receiver understand the nature and importance of a message. Using a training video on cleaning practices helps new employees grasp the importance placed on herd health. A written disciplinary warning for tardiness emphasizes to the employee that the problem is serious. A birthday card to a daughter-in-law is more sincere than a request to a son to say “Happy Birthday” to his wife.
Simple rules for selection of a channel cause more problems than they solve. In choosing a channel, the sender needs to be sensitive to such things as the complexity of the message (good morning versus a construction contract); the consequences of a misunderstanding (medication for a sick animal versus a guess about tomorrow’s weather); knowledge, skills and abilities of the receiver (a new employee versus a partner in the business); and immediacy of action to be taken from the message (instructions for this morning’s work versus a plan of work for next year).
4. Language – Words are not reality. Words as the sender understands them are combined with the perceptions of those words by the receiver. Language represents only part of the whole. We fill in the rest with perceptions. Trying to understand a foreign language easily demonstrates words not being reality. Being “foreign” is not limited to the language of another country. It can be the language of another farm. The Gerken house may be where the Browns now live. The green goose may be a trailer painted red long after it was given the name green goose. A brassy day may say much about temperature and little about colour. Each new family member and employee needs to be taught the language of the farm. Until the farm’s language is learned, it can be as much a barrier to communication as a foreign language.
5. Lack of feedback – Feedback is the mirror of communication. Feedback mirrors what the sender has sent. Feedback is the receiver sending back to the sender the message as perceived. Without feedback, communication is one-way. Feedback happens in a variety of ways. Asking a person to repeat what has been said, e.g., repeat instructions, is a very direct way of getting feedback. Feedback may be as subtle as a stare, a puzzled look, a nod, or failure to ask any questions after complicated instructions have been given. Both sender and receiver can play an active role in using feedback to make communication truly two-way. Feedback should be helpful rather than hurtful. Prompt feedback is more effective that feedback saved up until the “right” moment. Feedback should deal in specifics rather than generalities. Approach feedback as a problem in perception rather than a problem of discovering the facts.
6. Poor listening skills – Listening is difficult. A typical speaker says about 125 words per minute. The typical listener can receive 400-600 words per minute. Thus, about 75 pe
ERICK MOGAKA answered the question on September 27, 2017 at 16:56