Communication is a complex endeavor. So many factors go into getting two
people to really understand one another. Great companies rely on effective
communication for greater efficiency and teamwork. Therefore, figuring out how
to get it together so teams can function optimally is a priority for any
business.
Physical Barriers
Sometimes barriers are very literal. Walls, doors and dividers do their
jobs--they divide. And while people need these to have quiet time, private
conversations and structure to a workspace, they can be a subtle hindrance to
communication. If you think about it, people in open rooms tend to talk more and
walk about more freely. Therefore, organizations interested in great
communication consider how they configure employees' space.
Language Barriers
The American workplace has become very diverse and immigrants are a major
part of society. In many cases people whose first language is not English are
part of the working environment. Particularly in industries such as health care,
engineering and computer science, foreigners constitute a large part of the
workforce. In some cases, American businesses work closely with offices,
satellites and vendors in other countries.
Cultural Barriers
Cultural barriers go beyond language. People who speak English perfectly well
may have different attitudes and approaches that come from their places of
origin or the way they were raised. Sometimes someone born and raised in America
may have cultural differences from others because of his ethnicity. How people
think, react and see the world can vary widely because of culture.
Emotional Barriers
Some people are just shy. Others are conflict avoidant. Because of people's
childhoods, self confidence, self esteem issues and just their natural
dispositions, they may not be strong communicators. Sometimes the barrier isn't
that people aren't good listeners or can't express an idea--it's that they
won't. Often managers must use a softer touch and create a safe environment to
help employees to get past emotional barriers and become more active
communicators.
Personality
People come with all kinds of angles, quirks, attitudes, approaches and world
views. People's differences are part of how they all bring something different
to the table, but they can also be an impediment to getting on the same page.
Examples are infinite, but some particularly problematic personality traits can
include being easily distracted, having trouble getting ideas out into clear
concise sentences, being a poor listener, avoiding eye contact, playing power
games, distancing intentionally. However, many cases of stalled communication
occur between people who have no particular communication deficiencies, but
whose personalities and outlooks leave them at odds.
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