Communication and its
barriers
Communication is a process beginning with a
sender who encodes the message and passes it
through some channel to the receiver who decodes
the message. Communication is fruitful if and only
if the messages sent by the sender is interpreted
with same meaning by the receiver.
The Communication Process
“I take sugar in my tea”
Source
Encoding
Message
Channel
Message
Decoding
Message
Receiver
Message
The Communication Process
Feedback
Receiver
Decoding
Message
Channel
Message
Encoding
Message
“One lump or two?”
Source
Message
Communication Feedback
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We may say that communication has
occurred only when the message has been
understood.
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Understanding occurs in the mind of the
receiver.
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Feedback is critical to ensure that accurate
understanding of the message has occurred.
Communication
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Methods:
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Verbal – face to face
Written
Electronic
Visual
Audio
Group meetings
Notice boards
Text!
Communication
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Medium:
 Letters
 Memo
 Report
 Notice board
 Faxes
 Telephone
 E-mail
 Face to face
 Body language
 Video/video conferencing
 Internet
Barriers to
Communication
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Barriers to accurate communication
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Unfamiliar language – including dialects and accents
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Improper timing – Is the boss distracted today?
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Noise and distractions in the environment
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Attitude of both the source and the receiver
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Differences between people – gender, age, culture, education,
intelligence, etc.
Relationship between the sender and the receiver – status, bossemployee, parent-child, etc.
Barriers to
Communications
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Filtering – manipulation of information so that it will seem more
favorably to the receiver.
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Selective Perception – receiver hears message based on
his/her interests, needs, motivations, experience, background and
other personal characteristics.
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Defensiveness – response when receiver interprets message as
threatening
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Language – Words mean different things to different people.
Listening barriers:
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Interrupting the speaker
Not maintaining eye contact with the speaker
Rushing the speaker to complete what he/she
has to say
Making the speaker feel as though he/she is
wasting the listener's time
Being distracted by something that is not part
of the on going communication
Getting ahead of the speaker and completing
his/her thoughts
Listening Barriers

Ignoring the speaker's requests
Topping the speaker's story with one's own set
of examples
Forgetting what is being discussed
Asking too many questions, for they sake of
probing
Barriers while speaking
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Unclear messages
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Lack of consistency in the communication
process
Incomplete sentences
Not understanding the receiver
Not seeking clarifications while
communicating
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Action to be taken to overcome
barriers of effective communication
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The effectiveness of the communication
process is dependent upon the capabilities of
the senders and receivers
Sender
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WHO : To whom should the message go ?
WHY : Why am I communicating ? what are
my motives ?
WHAT : Decide what to communicate. Be
clear about what you need to communicate.
WHEN : Choose the best time for optimum
reception.
Sender’s Role
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HOW : Use language the receiver will
understand and which unambiguous.
WHERE : Choose a location which will not
interfere with the reception, understanding and
acceptance of the message.
Keep checking with the receiver.
Receiver’s Role
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Receiver
Be fully ATTENTIVE to sender
Listen ACTIVELY to the messages being sent.
ASK for clarifications, reception where
necessary.
Keep checking with sender.
Mutual Expedition
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Together
Realize that misunderstandings are bound to
occur, and be ALERT for all cues to this effect.
LISTEN, listen, listen, and listen again.
TEST your understanding of the message.
Share OPINIONS, feelings and perceptions
generated by the message.
Principal Barriers
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The principal barriers to effective communication are:
Noise
Poor feedback,
Selection of inappropriate media,
Wrong mental attitude,
Insufficient or lack of attention to work selection,
Delay in message transmittal,
Physical separation of the sender and receiver,
Lack of empathy or a good relationship between the
sender and receiver
The Ten Commandments of Good
Communication
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Seek to clarify your ideas before
communicating
Examine the true purpose of each
communication
Consider the total physical and
human setting
Consult with others in planning
communications
Be mindful of the overtones as
well as the basic content of your
message
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Take the opportunity to convey
something of help or value to the
receiver
Follow-up your communication
Communicate for tomorrow as
well as today
Be sure your actions support your
communications
Seek not only to be understood
but to understand - be a good
listener
The End
THANK
YOU