Question

As a leader faced with a conflict resolution scenario in the workplace, how might you help people understand the importance of actively listening to the other person? So often, people are "stuck" in their own thoughts, perceptions and ways that they do not "actively" listen to anything or anyone. How would you help others to break through that barrier?

Answer 1

Usually a communication channel is one, using which an information can flow throughout the company. Example of such communication channel can be company’s intranet portal, company’s newsletter, etc. Communication barrier in a company, is any entity which distorts the information being floated or transmitted in the company. Example: use of technical jargons can make an information, lose its simplicity and brevity. So, it acts as a communication barrier. If employees are not actively listening to one another, it acts as a communication barrier and distorts the overall essence of the data or information at hand, thus reducing the effectiveness of the overall project and company.

At a workplace, it is the duty of every employee and the management to overcome communication barriers or try to reduce the impact of the same. Some of the ways in which it can be facilitated, are:

• Use of simple language in any company message or information
• Encouraging the practice of active listening
• Avoiding information overload
• Elimination of physical barriers to communication transmission

Some of the ways in which the practice of active listening can be incorporated in one’s behavior are as follows:

• Face the speaker and maintain an eye contact with him or her
• Keep an open mind and don’t make perceptions
• Try to analyze what the speaker is trying to say
• Ask questions for clarity, when the speaker has paused or stopped speaking
• Respond fairly to the speaker