Question

List five common barriers to communication in financial departments

Answer 1

The Common Barriers to communication in Financial Departments are as follows:-

1) Noise:-

Noise is the foremost barrier to communication in Finance Department. Noise is the interference caused while communication is taking place. Some technical problem in the signals and defects in telephonic cables may distort the message. Adverse weather condition and or some fault in the ultramodern telecommunication system may affect the communication.

Example:- The telephone cables may be inappropriately attached with in the department which will result in the distortion of the communication messages due to noise.

2) Lack of planning:-

The message is not sometimes carefully planned which leads to ineffective communication. Instead of long ill planned lecture a short presentation with the help of the graphs and tables leads to better communication. Similarly, the choosing of the suitable time and place for the communication is also necessary.

Example:- Finance department gives presentation to the stakeholders on various available alternatives for taking stretegic decisions. The lack of planning and ineffective presentation may lead to ineffective communication which may further lead to wrong decisions being taken.

3) Semantic Problems:- Semantics is the systematic study of the meaning. The problems arising from the expression or transmission of meaning in communication can lead to ineffective communication. A word or sentence may have 2 or different meanings, one need to understand it correctly as the situation demands. The mind of the receiver may catch the different meaning as intended to be sent by the sender. The sender has to take care that the receiver does not misconstrue the message.

4). Wrong Assumptions:-

Quite often we act on assumptions, without caring to seek clarification for them. When any communication takes place, there are many points which prompts us to take the assumption. These assumptions may not be correct everytime, thus leading to ineffective communication.

5). Socio Psychological barriers:-

The attitude and opinions, place in society and status consciousness arising from the one's position in the hierarchical structure of the organisation, one's relation with peers, senior juniors and family background all these affect one's ability to communicate as both sender and receiver. Status consciousness is widely known to be serious communication barrier in organisation.

Example:- The finance department has its own hierarchical structure. The General Manager may not be willing to communicate to Executive Finance because of the status consciousness leading to ineffective communication.