Question

Think about a recent conversation (in the workplace, school, or home) where you had trouble communicating.

What were your barriers to sharing the message and/or understanding the message? Discuss ways that you could have minimized the barriers?

Answer 1

Some of the barriers I had while sharing the message and/or understanding the message at a recent workplace conversation are as follows:

Firstly, the use of jargon can be a common problem for effective communication. Jargons tend to have a very niche audience and is very esoteric in nature. Therefore, a colleague who's is new to the organization and is unfamiliar with the industry jargon can have a hard time grasping the meaning of most conversations. Hence, it is always prudent to limit the usage of jargon while communicating with people unfamiliar with these terms. Jargon can often hinder or slow down the flows of ideas and should always be used in a limited manner to minimize the communication barriers caused by it.

Secondly, often in a workplace with people from diverse backgrounds and ethnicity, cultural barriers can become a hindrance to effective communication. A big factor for such kind of cultural barrier is the presence of existing cultural stereotypes and preconceptions about people usually stemming from the lack of cultural awareness and knowledge. These barriers can be minimized by having regular cross-cultural workshops at workplace that allow employees to understand the nuances of each culture. Such activities will promote mutual respect among different cultures and eliminate unconscious biases.

Lastly, perceptual barriers are another big factor that poses as a barrier to effective communication at work. Perceptual barriers are internal mental blocks that we create for ourselves by assuming things in advance. These pre-conceived notions can often lead to misunderstandings and false assumptions about the people around us. In order to minimize the communication barriers due to perceptual barriers, we need to address those misconceptions and not leave them unchecked. Having an attitude of goodwill and tolerance towards the point of view of others can greatly help to minimize such perceptual barriers.