Barriers to Communication.

1. Barriers to Communication.

2. Communication Barriers • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbVhN5VBy-k

3. Types of Barriers • Physical Noise • Technical Noise • Psychological Noise • Poor Timing • Perceptual Bias • Lack of Interest • Psychological Bias • Information Overload

4. Physical Noise • Physical noise occurs when the sender and receiver try to communicate in a situation that is noisy • For example, the bus stop. The noise produced by the passing buses create what is known as ‘physical noise’.

5. Technical Noise • Technical noise occurs when the sender and the receiver use a tool to communicate for example, a phone. • When 2 people are communicating using the phone, and one person steps into an elevator, the signal will be lost and the communication will fail. The break down with the tool used to communicate is known as ‘technical noise’.

6. Psychological Noise • Psychological noise occurs when the receiver of the message is thinking of something and not concentrating on the message itself, for example, having class in a park. • While this may sound like a nice and comfortable situation to be in the message may be lost if the receiver of the message is thinking about if the grass is wet or if there are any harmful bees around. • As the receiver loses concentration on what is being transmitted by the sender, so we have ‘psychological noise’.

7. Poor Timing • Poor timing usually happens when the sender is not aware of the mood of the receiver when sending the message. • For example, approaching your employer for a raise when he/she has just made an announcement that the company is almost bankrupt.

8. Perceptual Bias • Perceptual bias occurs when the sender is not aware of the rules of first impression. • For example, when you attend an interview there is an appropriate dress code. • Failure to follow that dress code may result in you being prejudiced against. If you go for an interview for an accounting position dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, don’t be surprised if you don’t get the job.

9. Lack of Interest • Sometimes, there are some things that we are just not interested in. Of all the subjects that students learn to complete their degree, they cannot love all. • There will be the ONE or TWO subject that we have to suffer to stay awake for. A lack of interest in what someone has to say will definitely lead to a breakdown in communication.

10. Psychological Bias • Ever heard of prejudices? Someone doesn’t like you because you are male/female,old/young, rich/poor. • There are biases. A bias is something that the sender cannot fix. There is no solution to this problem. Just be prepared.

11. Language Barrier • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTiifk7gwHo

12. Information Overload • Information overload occurs when you try to absorb too much information over a short period of time. • If you try to study continuously for hours without a break, or introduce too many new concepts to your learning in one period of time, your mind will become confused and this can lead to a break down in communication.

13. Questions • List and explain the various barriers that may occur in an organisation. • What steps can be taken to overcome the above mentioned barriers • Choose a barrier and demonstrate the barrier and how to overcome it through a short act/sketch