Barriers to Good Communication

It is not possible that every time the message transmitted by the superior is properly understood and assimilated by those for whom it is intended. It is obstructed by many obstacles or hindrances. These are referred to as barriers to communication. It includes those factors which cause disturbance either in the mind of the communicator or the communicate or in the process which will create distortion of the message. leading to lack of response, ignorance or misunderstanding. The main barriers to effective communication may arise if :

•   the message is not planned:

•   the message is poorly structured and worded;

 •   the meanings of the words in the message arc not delimited;

 •   the status of the sender and that of the receiver are different; •   communication is attempted under coercive conditions:

 •   the original message is not faithfully and truthfully retained; •   assumptions made in the message are not explicit;

•   there is interruption during the transmission of message;

•   the listener is inattentive and anxious to comment or evaluate without hearing out the speaker.

•   the receiver of the message is not given sufficient time to adapt himself or herself to the demands of the message:

•   they have not the same understanding to the situation or subject being discussed.