Six common communication barriers kill effective communication. Do you know what they are? Sometimes referred to as communication blocks, these barriers not only sabotage our chances of open and honest dialogue, they also kill the possibility of any meaningful communication taking place. They can put a damper on our relationships and a big dent in our business.
Common communication barriers are blocks (real or imagined) that limit our ability to connect with another person or people, in a helpful or useful way. Here are six common communication barriers that prevent effective communication from taking place.
– Fear of being politically incorrect. Saying the wrong thing and offending someone.
– Attitude. If we have had a particularly stressful day, we will be less inclined to listen with an open mind.
– Emotions. Any time we let our emotions take charge of our thinking, we limit our ability to respond appropriately.
– Language. Idiomatic expressions, jargon and shoptalk turn people off from listening. If they have to stop and think about what the words mean, they’ve put their attention elsewhere.
– Too much information, also known as information overload, shuts the thinking process down instantly, whether you are speaking to one person or an audience of many.
While any one of these communication barriers can kill conversations, thwart team projects, pull down presentations and close the door to sales and profit building opportunities, the granddaddy of them all has to be selective perception. Selective perception is where we choose to hear or see only certain things. Things that support what we already believe based on our experience, background and other personal traits.
Because we are bombarded with all kinds of details every day, we take so-called short cuts in judging others, circumstances and situations. For example, a friend of mine almost lost big dollars because one of her staff incorrectly labelled a poorly dressed customer as not having enough money to buy a pair of designer frames. Because of what she chose to believe, based on what she saw and her past experience, the staff member missed a golden opportunity to make the sale. However, my friend did not. She was open in her communication and open to business.
To learn more about barriers, why not check out this article in eHow http://www.ehow.com/how_2090394_identify-barriers-communication.html
And, don’t let these six common communication barriers kill your chance of creating dynamic relationships and unlimited profitable business ventures. Be open. Be aware. Be receptive.