1. Barriers to Effective Communication and How to
Overcome Them
Dr. Arun K Behera*
Prof. Bijay K Tripathy* *
Introduction: 1. Physical barriers:
Communication is a complex process Physical barriers refer to a large number
wherein information is shared between of physical factors ranging from noise and
individuals through a common system of bodily movements to ill health of either or
symbols, signs, and behavior expressing both the participants, confusion and
feelings, ideas, views, opinions, etc. People discomfort. Even the slightest of the
communicate to satisfy needs. The main undesirable sound such as that arising out of
purpose of communication is to help people dragging a table or sneezing or banging of
feel good about themselves and about their the door or the window panes or creaking of
friends, groups, and organizations. For the the door or the fan etc. can pose a distraction
communication to succeed there must be a especially to the listener leading to loss of
transmission of thoughts, ideas and feelings certain information. Similarly, when one or
from one mind to another. Effective both of the persons in the field of
communication is an essential component of communication is/are not well or when there
organizational success whether it is at the is any kind of discomfort on either part
interpersonal or intergroup or organizational communication becomes ineffective.
or even external level. Sometimes, some sort of confusion also arises
Although all of us have been which leads to the communication being not
communicating with others since our infancy, successful. Thus, in oral communication, other
the process of transmitting information from barriers such as faulty seating arrangements,
an individual (or a group) to another is a distance between the sender and the receiver,
very complex process with many sources of fatigue etc. result in miscommunication. In
potential error. According to an case of written communication, on the other
estmate,people in organizations typically hand, illegible writing, bad photocopies etc.
spend over 75% of their time in an lead to miscommunication.
interpersonal situation; thus it is no surprise 2. Semantic Barriers:
to find that at the root of a large number of Secondly, barriers pertaining to language
organizational problems is poor vary from spoken words to graphics, charts
communication. This poor (or ineffective or etc. The audience fails to get the intended
unsuccessful or failed) communication is meaning if the words or expressions used are
caused by a large number of barriers. We will too complicated or uncommon. The choice
however be discussing them under three broad of words or language in which a sender encodes
categories. a message will influence the quality of
Barriers to Communication: communication. Because language is a
1. Physical symbolic representation of a phenomenon,
2. Semantic room for interpretation and distortion of the
3. Socio-psychological meaning exists. Similar is the case with
*
Dept. of English, Sri Sathya Sai University, Brindavan Campus, Kadugodi P.O., Bangalore-
560 067 E-mail: arunbehera_65@yahoo.co.in
**
Professor, P.G. Dept. of English, Sambalpur University, Jyotivihar-768 019 Orissa
academe Vol. XIII, No.1, November, 2009 14

2. graphics, charts, maps, diagrams and such audience face the speaker in order to have
other things. When the teacher uses very eye contact. Secondly, the audibility and
difficult or weird words such as bizarre, eerie visibility in the hall should be ensured.
etc. the students may not comprehend them. Moreover, the visual and aural distractions
Semantic barriers occur when the sender and should be minimised. It is also necessary that
the receiver assign different meanings to the the environmental comfort is provided to
same words. The word vent, for example, may achieve optimum effect.
mean either an opening, a hole or to express. 2. I. Means to overcome semantic barriers:
3. Socio-psychological barriers: Similarly, in order to tackle linguistic
There is one more barrier to effective barriers use of simple language is a very useful
communication: socio-psychological which method. Ideas and information can also be
comes out of attitudes, emotions, status, effectively disseminated by using graphic
source of communication, inattentiveness, symbols, charts, audio-visual resources, etc.
poor retention, unsolicited communication, The speaker also should prepare handouts and
etc. People attend to stimuli in the recommend books for better communication.
environment in very different ways. We have Taking feedback as frequently as possible is
shortcuts that we use to organize data. another useful means of overcoming linguistic
Invariably, these shortcuts introduce some barrier.
biases into communication. Some of these 3. I. Means to overcome socio-psychological
shortcuts include stereotyping, projection, and barriers:
self-fulfilling prophecies. Of these, however, Socio-psychological barriers are difficult
stereotyping is more common. Similarly, our to tame. Calling attention and motivating
perception or preconceived notions on certain listeners, however, go a long way. Feedback
things also affect our understanding. also helps overcome psychological barriers to
Communication fails if there are hasty a large extent. The listeners expect some kind
judgments, refusal to listen to a problem, of assistance and sympathy which are very
distraction, acceptance of words literally, fear useful for the success of the communication.
of criticism, day dreaming, impatience, Judicious use of audio-visual media helps
interruptions, preconceived notions, switching bridge the communication gap.
off, etc. Conclusion:
Means to overcome barriers: Language is a powerful vehicle of
There are, however, many feasible ways communication. Sometimes, however, owing
to overcome these barriers so as to make our to a number of factors successful or effective
communication effective and successful. Some communications do not take place. Some of
of the more acceptable and easily practicable the more prominent factors leading to
ways and means of overcoming these barriers breakdown or failure in communication are:
are suggested below: physical, semantic and socio-psychological
1. I. Means to overcome physical barriers: barriers. Of course there are also equally
As far as the physical barriers are effective means through which these barriers
concerned, they can be overcome by following can be overcome, thus resulting in effective
some small yet effective steps such as making communication. To cite Francis T Bergin,
appropriate seating arrangements in the communication, in order to succeed must be
classroom or the lecture hall. The seating correct, clear, complete, concise, concrete,
arrangement has to be such that all the candid and courteous.
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