Communication Skills

BARRIERS TO
COMMUNICATION
WHAT IS NOISE?
INTRAPERSONAL INTERPERSONAL ORGANIZATIONAL PHYSICAL
PSYCHOLOGICAL & SEMANTIC BARRIERS

COMMUNICATION BARRIERS
The word barrier means a:

anything that makes progress or

communication difficult or
impossible.
Hurdles or problems which affect the

transmission of information in the

communicative process are called
communication barriers.

Mihir Dave - B. H. Gardi College of Engineering & Technology - Rajkot

What is noise?
Noise means interference that

prevents you from hearing

sounds properly.
Any unwanted sound is noise
In

a factory, for example the

continuous noise made by machines
makes oral communication
difficult.

Mihir Dave - B. H. Gardi College of Engineering & Technology - Rajkot

NOISE: Problem & Solution

Result: In the same way some technical

problem in a public address system or

television cable will distort the sound
signal and affect communication.
The way out: The authorities concern
can take preventive steps in an
organization, which minimize this
barrier to some extent.
Mihir Dave - B. H. Gardi College of Engineering & Technology - Rajkot

CLASSIFICATION OF BARRIERS
If we classify barriers according to

the progress of message formation &

delivery , we get them at three level:
Intrapersonal

Barriers
Interpersonal Barriers
Organizational Barriers
Mihir Dave - B. H. Gardi College of Engineering & Technology - Rajkot

INTRAPERSONAL BARRIERS

Each of us interprets the same

information in different ways.

This is because of difference in
our experience, education,
value & personality.
An

individuals in-built barriers

are called Intrapersonal Barriers.

Mihir Dave - B. H. Gardi College of Engineering & Technology - Rajkot

INTRAPERSONAL BARRIERS
Intrapersonal Barriers are further

sub-divided into:
Wrong

assumption
Varied perceptions
Differing background
Impervious category
Categorical thinking
Mihir Dave - B. H. Gardi College of Engineering & Technology - Rajkot

INTERPERSONAL BARRIERS
Interpersonal barriers occurs due

to the inappropriate transmission

of words between two of more
people.
Inefficiency

in Communication

skills
Negative aspect nurturing in the
climate
Mihir Dave - B. H. Gardi College of Engineering & Technology - Rajkot

INTERPERSONAL BARRIERS
The most common reasons for

interpersonal barriers are:

Limited

Vocabulary
Emotional outburst
Incongruity: (of verbal & non-verbal message)
Poor

listening skills
Noise in the channel
Mihir Dave - B. H. Gardi College of Engineering & Technology - Rajkot

ORGANIZATIONAL BARRIERS
In any organization there are two

kinds of barriers commonly seen:

Upward

communication barriers:

In

upward communication subordinates

tend to send up only such information as
will show them in a favorable light. The
important thing is that what is sent up
may not be always be reliable.

Mihir Dave - B. H. Gardi College of Engineering & Technology - Rajkot

ORGANIZATIONAL BARRIERS
Second kind is:
Downward

communication barriers:

In

downward communication, the loss

of information is even greater because
it depends much on written
communication (bulletins, notices,
letters) which is not read with enough
care.

Mihir Dave - B. H. Gardi College of Engineering & Technology - Rajkot

ORGANIZATIONAL BARRIERS
The way outs:
To

overcome this barrier, every

organization
should
constantly
evaluate its system of internal
communication.
An
organization
should make sure that there are no
undue
delays
in
passing
of
information.

Mihir Dave - B. H. Gardi College of Engineering & Technology - Rajkot

PHYSICAL BARRIERS
Uncomfortable rooms, sounds related

physical disturbance either in the

surrounding environment or somewhere
close by which perforce draw attention of
the participants can be termed as physical
noise.
Playing with key bunch, tapping the desk
with fingers, physical discomfort, ill
health and/or poor listening all these
create physical barriers.
Mihir Dave - B. H. Gardi College of Engineering & Technology - Rajkot

PHYSICAL BARRIERS
The way outs:
Make

suitable seating arrangement.

Ensure audibility and visibility.
Minimize visual and aural distractions.
Provide comfortable environment.
Proper posture and proper body.

Mihir Dave - B. H. Gardi College of Engineering & Technology - Rajkot

PSYCHOLOGICAL BARRIERS
Mental turbulence of any kind which

distracts the participant or prevents him

from paying attention to the message, is
defined as psychological barriers.
It

could be due to host of reasons

preoccupation, prejudice, ego hang-ups,
know-it-all, fatigue, anxiety, preconceived ideas or notions, disinterest
and/or cultural disparities.

Mihir Dave - B. H. Gardi College of Engineering & Technology - Rajkot

PSYCHOLOGICAL BARRIERS
The way outs:
Plan & clarify ideas & opinions.
Collate ideas, or suggestions, of others.
Call attention & motivate the listener.
Use feedback process & develop trust &
confidence.
Time your message carefully.
Catch up with individual background.

Mihir Dave - B. H. Gardi College of Engineering & Technology - Rajkot

SEMANTIC BARRIERS
Semantics is the systematic study of

meaning. At times problem arises in

expression and transmission of
meaning.
Result:

Oral or written communication is

based on words. As it is known that words
have multiple meanings, for instance a
reference to the Random House
Dictionary will show that the word stall
has twenty-five meanings.

Mihir Dave - B. H. Gardi College of Engineering & Technology - Rajkot

SEMANTIC BARRIERS
Selection of unsuitable words,

improper sentence structure,

imprecise or ambiguous sentences
can be termed as semantic barriers.
Moreover, jargon and technical

terms are strictly limited to the

group of persons who work together.
Mihir Dave - B. H. Gardi College of Engineering & Technology - Rajkot

SEMANTIC BARRIERS
The way outs:
Use

simple and precise language.

Use suitable language.
Employ different methods of
communication.
Avoid ambiguous and abstract words.
Avoid polysemic words which create
confusion.
Mihir Dave - B. H. Gardi College of Engineering & Technology - Rajkot