Communication Barriers

2. Socio- Psychological Barriers
◦ Socio-psychological barriers are the most difficult barriers
to communication.
Technological Barriers
◦ Technological barriers can either facilitate the
communication or act as a barrier.
◦ Sometimes it can do both at the same time.

3. Following are the various characteristics of Socio- Psychological
Barriers
◦ Attitudes and Opinions
◦ Emotions
◦ Status and Fear
◦ Close Minded
◦ Lack of Attention
◦ Distrust
◦ Premature Evaluation
◦ Poor Retention
◦ Perceptual Distortion
◦ Resistance to change

4. Attitudes & Opinions:
◦ Personal attitudes and opinions often interfere
communication.
◦ If the message is consistent with our attitudes and
opinions we receive it favorably. The message fits
comfortably in the filter of our mind.
Emotions:
◦ Emotions block our mind, and we fail to organize the
message properly.

5. Status and Fear
◦ Status consciousness serves as a major barrier to
communication.
◦ Subordinates are either too conscious of their low status or
too afraid of being snubbed.
◦ Many executives keep distance from their juniors thinking
that consulting subordinates will lower their dignity.
◦ Status consciousness is a very serious barrier in face-to-
face communication.
Close Minded
◦ A person may have a closed mind due to deep-rooted
prejudices, superiority complex, limited intellectual
background, narrow interest etc.

6. Inattention
◦ Lack of attention on the part of the listener or reader is a
common barrier to communication.
◦ Inattention arises due to mental preoccupation or distraction.
Distrust:
◦ Communication is likely to fail when the receiver has a
suspicious about the source of communication.
Premature Evaluation
◦ Some people form a judgment before receiving the
complete message.
◦ Such premature evaluation prevents effective
communication.

7. Poor Retention
◦ A part of the message is lost, in the process of
transmission.
◦ At every level the message is screened and only a part of it
is transmitted further. Therefore, successive transmissions
of the message are decreasingly accurate.
Perceptual Distortion
◦ Perception implies noticing and understanding.
◦ Each perception has unique preconception depending upon
his past experiences, attitudes and interests.
Resistance to change
◦ When a message urges some change and the receiver is
opposed to change.
◦ The process of communication is hampered.

8. Technology improved communication process in various ways
but in spite of the technology it can also act as a barrier to
communication.
Not using latest Technology
◦ Use of technology that can hinder or delay your message.
◦ Use technology selectively and with clear thought before
you send your message out across the organization.
◦ Difference in the technology used by sender and receiver is
also a technological barrier.

9. Lack of Technological knowledge
◦ If the sender and receiver lack technical knowledge on the
subject or then it is unlikely the message will be correctly
received.
Technical Noise
◦ This refers to inherent barriers in the device itself of
channel.
Barriers at Decoding stage
◦ It includes lack of listening ability, stereo typical bias etc.