Oral Com: Communication Barriers

Physical Barriers

an element or a physical factor that acts as a distraction to hinder the flow of communication. Noise, bad architecture, and closed doors are all physical barriers to listening. Even a network disturbance due to a thunderstorm can be considered as one of the examples of physical barriers.

Perceptual Barriers

exist in people’s minds based on how they perceive the world around them. They can be caused by the many cognitive biases of the human mind that prevent us from perceiving people and situations accurately. Individuals may also have their own unique biases based on previous experience and the influence of others.

Emotional Barriers

or emotional noise are the negative feelings we acquire about certain people, places and situations. Whether caused by bad experiences or the influence of others, they evoke emotions such as fear and mistrust that prevent effective interaction.

Language Barriers

even people who speak the same native language can have difficulty understanding each other if they’re from different generations, regions of the same country. Language causes communication barriers if you use words that other people are unfamiliar with. As soon as you introduce these words, you begin to exclude others.

Professional Jargon

business jargon is words and phrases used by business employees to convey unique ideas and directions

Regional Colloquialism

word or expression used in or suited familiar or informal conversations

Cultural Barriers

arise if you don’t understand the group’s required behaviour patterns, which increases the risk of doing something its members frown upon.

Gender Barriers

 are the result of the different ways in which the various genders communicate with one another and are expected to communicate. Gender stereotypes, assumed gender roles and interpersonal differences can lead to unhealthy communication gaps.

Physiological Barriers

related with the limitations of the human body and the human mind (memory, attention, and perception). - barriers may result from individuals’ personal discomfort, caused by ill-health, poor eyesight, or hearing difficulties.

Lack of Common Experiences

using examples or stories to explain or enhance a point is a great idea. However, if others cannot relate to these examples because they do not have the same knowledge or shared experiences, then this tool will be ineffective.

Information Overload

it takes time to process large quantities of information and too many details can overwhelm and distract the individual from the important topics.