Question

Identify and describe the seven common barriers to effective communication.

Selective perception

Misperception:

Filtering

Information overload

Organizational barriers

Cultural barriers

Noise

Consider your current employer, along with any jobs you have held in the past, as a source of communication examples. Then for each of the seven common barriers to effective communication, provide a specific example to illustrate your description provided in the first step.

Here's what you should include for each of the seven common barriers to effective communication: First, provide a brief description of the communication example. Then explain the barrier to effective communication. Finally, describe what the sender or receiver could have done to improve the effectiveness of the communication.

Here's an example: A student asked me to call them to discuss their grades. I called the student and spoke with her about her grades. The barrier to effective communication was noise, as there was a baby crying in the background. While she apologized for the distraction, it was still an interruption to our communication. An obvious recommendation would have been for her to accept my offer to speak at another time when there was less noise.

Answer 1

Selective perception: It is a process in which persons perceive only those things which they really want and try to avoid or ignore another person's viewpoint.

My boss called me and my colleague to discuss the matter of our new project. The barrier to effective communication was selective perception because my colleague wasn't interested in listening to mine and my boss's opinion. He was just sticking with his own perception.

An obvious recommendation would have been for him is to listen to our perception regarding the project as well since we both need to work together on this project.

Misperception: It can be termed as an opinion about something which is incorrect.

My Boss and I were discussing the performance of the subordinates working under me. The barrier to effective communication was Misperception because he shared an incorrect opinion regarding my subordinate who is already performing really well under my guidance.

An obvious recommendation would have been for him is to check the data of my subordinate performance again which I shared to him recently.

Filtering: It refers to manipulated information send by a person intentionally to a receiver. And the receiver thinks that the information is positive.

A manager was in a weekly meeting with his subordinates. The barrier to effective communication was Filtering because all the subordinates shared only that information which their manager wanted to hear. This way the manager couldn't be able to find the problems of subordinates.

An obvious recommendation would have been for the subordinates is to share all kind of information related to the work they are doing. This way, the manager will be able to know about the problems and can help them in sorting that out.

Information overload: This emerges when a sender shares too much information to the receiver.

A customer wrote an email to a customer support team and mentioned all the details regarding the product's problem along with what potential problem may arise. The barrier to effective communication was Information Overload because the customer has inserted too much information in his mail which lead to the delay in processing the mail and understanding the exact problem of the customer's product

An obvious recommendation would have been for the customer is to mention the problems of his product in one or 2 sentences. This way the customer support team can respond as well as reach out to him on a call for further information.

Organizational barriers: It refers to the delay in the flow of information among the employees which may create a negative impact on the organization's performance.

A company wants to produce 1000 units of the bottles within 2 days, but employees were producing 500 units of bottles. The barrier to effective communication was Organizational barriers because the information about producing 1000 bottles is not known to the employees.

An obvious recommendation would have been for the managers to share the information with their subordinates as quickly as possible or before 2 or more days of starting the project

Cultural barriers: The organization faces cultural barrier when they think about starting a new firm in another country whose culture is very different from the culture they are living in.

A company which is operating in the U.S. wants to open a non-vegetarian restaurant in India. The barrier to effective communication was Cultural barriers because the U.S. company don't know what kind of non-vegetarian food Indians love and what percentage of people eat non-vegetarian food there.

An obvious recommendation would have been for the company is to learn about the culture of India before starting their restaurant business in India.

Noise: Any interference which stops you from listening to the information sent by the sender properly.

A client called a customer support team to get the solution regarding his problem. The barrier to effective communication was Noise because the client's voice was not clear since he was outside. Due to a lot of noises of vehicles the customer support person is having difficulty in understanding the concern of his client.

An obvious recommendation would have been for the client is to go to a place where is less noise or call again to customer support after reaching home.