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BARRIERS TO COMMUNICATION

Barriers of communication

Learner, recall that when we discussed the different methods of communication we noted that there are disadvantages that hinders communication. Over and above these, effective communication is also affected by certain barriers to communication. So, today we need to look at the barriers to communication which are also called noise that affects communication. We mentioned before that noise is anything that distracts, distorts or spoils the message or its intention.

Learner, what do you understand by the word barrier? Generally, a barrier is something that prevents something else from happening effectively. Now, let us define barrier to communication. So learner, let us define what barrier to communication is:

A barrier to communication is defined as any factor that prevents the receiver from receiving or correctly understanding a message that others use to convey information, ideas and thoughts. Learner, do you know that barriers to communication can interfere with or block the message you are trying to send?  This therefore, disturbs effective communication which is important even in a business.

Learner, do you know that these barriers to communication are caused by different reasons? Are you aware if barriers to communication are not dealt with, an organisation would not function properly? It is important to learn about the barriers to communication, so that you are aware of them and can avoid them. The following are some of the barriers to effective communication:

(1) Physical barriers – these are obstacles or barriers that come from the work environment as a result of production taking place. For instance, a noisy factory may prevent the receivers from understanding the information correctly if it is passed on through oral or verbal communication.

(2) Geographical distance – if the sender and the receiver are too far apart from each other, this may make communication difficult especially if one of the parties involved does not have access to ICT tools. For example, learner when your agriculture teacher tries to give an instruction by shouting at you in the garden and you are 100 metres away, the distance between you and the teacher may prevent you from hearing clearly the message.

(3) Perceptual barriers – these are obstacles that we create in our mind that make communication difficult and make one think and act in a certain way. Factors that can cause perceptual barriers include: education and training, intelligence, occupation, personality, age and religion. So, learner it is important that you concentrate on your education so that when you interpret difficult messages it becomes easier for you to understand.

(4) Psychological or emotional barriers – an individual’s self-confidence, esteem, state of anger, bad attitude, pride, fear, nervousness or boredom can make a person interpret a message in a certain way even if it is not intended that way. For instance, when you are feeling sad or angry, you might interpret a message in a way that the sender did not intend, due to your emotional state at that time.

(5) Physiological barriers – when someone is sick or in pain or feeling any other form of discomfort, he or she can find it difficult to understand a message in the way that a healthy person would.

(6) Interpersonal barriers – when an employee does not have good relationships with their colleagues, effective communication can be prevented as this can lead to the employee not being involved in the activities of the workplace thus affecting teamwork.

(7) Semantic or language barriers – communicating with someone whose language is different from your own can be quite difficult because you might struggle to understand each other. Many people also use jargons or slang words which not everyone understands. This makes effective communication impossible.

(8) Method might be inappropriate – if the method used to send a message is not appropriate, the message might not reach the intended destination or receiver, or the receiver may receive it incorrectly. For example, learner, if an invitation to your parents to come to school for a meeting is pinned on the notice board, will they be able to get the message? Probably not all parents would know about the meeting due to the method used to communicate. 

Learner, so we have looked at the different types of barriers to communication. The biggest question that you should be asking yourself is, “should organisations leave barriers to communication unattended”? If not”? Why? 

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