For that reason, we may say one thing but the other person hears something completely different. Misunderstandings inevitably lead to frustration and problems. Worse even, we may speak unkindly, disrespectfully, and demeaning. This may cause hurt feeling and create mistrust, making the other person react defensively.
Of course, that only exacerbates the situation. At that point, true communication may become utterly impossible. Without learning humility, patience, and honest communication, the closeness we want slowly drifts apart. In any case, a candid self-examination is the first step to the solution to these communication dilemmas. Our personal communication style is reflected by what words we use, which medium we choose to transmit them, and the tone and body language particular to us.
While we may observe others all day, we rarely do that to ourselves. However, taking a good look at our own way of communicating—our preferences, strengths, and weaknesses—is one of the most important things we can do to improve communication with others. It can very well be that your communication style is the road block. Emotional Barriers One of the chief barriers to open and free communications is emotional.
They feel vulnerable. Cultural Barriers When we join a group and wish to remain in it, sooner or later we will need to adopt the behaviour patterns of the group. These are the behaviours that the group accept as signs of belonging. Language Barriers Our language may present barriers to others who are not familiar with our expressions, buzz-words and jargon.
When we couch our communication in such language, it excludes others. One of the more chilling memories of the Cold War was the threat by the Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev who said to the Americans at the United Nations: "We will bury you!
However, a more accurate reading of Khruschev's words would have been: "We will overtake you! Gender Barriers There are distinct differences between the speech patterns of men and women.
The reason for this lies in the wiring of a man's and woman's brains. This also explains why women talk for much longer than men each day. Interpersonal Barriers There are six ways in which people can distance themselves from one another: 1.
Withdrawal Withdrawal is an absence of interpersonal contact. Rituals Rituals are meaningless, repetitive routines devoid of real contact. Pastimes Pastimes fill up time with others in social but superficial activities. Working Work activities follow the rules and procedures of contact but no more than that. Games Games are subtle, manipulative interactions which are about winning and losing.
Closeness The purpose of interpersonal contact is closeness. Good interpersonal contact promotes honesty and acceptance.
Improving Your Communication Working on improving your communications is a broad-brush activity. You have to change your thoughts, feelings and physical connections. Janet Addison Janet employs her love of people and what makes them tick to support their development in a way that's fun, useful and truly unique.
Katy Miller Katy's fascination with the interplay between our external and internal lives has found expression through the Impact Factory's ethos and methods of working. See our page Barriers to Effective Listening for more information. Physical barriers to non-verbal communication. Not being able to see the non-verbal cues, gestures, posture and general body language can make communication less effective. Phone calls, text messages and other communication methods that rely on technology are often less effective than face-to-face communication.
Expectations and prejudices which may lead to false assumptions or stereotyping. People often hear what they expect to hear rather than what is actually said and jump to incorrect conclusions. Our page The Ladder of Inference explains this in more detail. Cultural differences. The norms of social interaction vary greatly in different cultures, as do the way in which emotions are expressed.
For example, the concept of personal space varies between cultures and between different social settings. See our page on Intercultural Awareness for more information. A skilled communicator must be aware of these barriers and try to reduce their impact by continually checking understanding and by offering appropriate feedback.
However, even when communicating in the same language, the terminology used in a message may act as a barrier if it is not fully understood by the receiver s. Set aside time to think through your delivery.
Larger changes may require more time and energy; however, even short communications or notes of thanks deserve attention. When you communicate, work on being present in the moment to devote your attention to the topic at hand.
One of the best ways to do that is to slow down and make time to plan your approach. Consider your audience. Is your message going to one individual, a team, a division or the entire company? Reflect on what your audience might need. Pick relevant media and formats. Then, assess your options, such as: emails, phone calls, meetings, webinars, company intranets, newsletters, one-on-ones or formal presentations.
Also, reflect on the message formatting: does it speak to each Thinking and Behavioral Attribute? As an example, a step-by-step list may appeal to those with a Structural preference, yet Conceptual thinkers will get more energy if you use imagery or colors to call attention to important points. Get a second opinion. Cognitive diversity is a beautiful thing. It helps us identify blind spots and pick up missing pieces of information that we may not be inclined to see, which can seriously reduce the intent-impact gap.
Yes, communication can be challenging, despite our years of practice. And, there are steps we can take to be more effective in how we work with others. By considering these four tips as you craft your messages, you can communicate in meaningful ways with colleagues — and help save your company quite a bit of money in the process! Interested in learning more about developing effective communication in your organization?
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