assignment on communication process and barriers

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12.4 Communication Barriers

Learning objectives.

• Understand different ways that the communication process can be sidetracked.
• Understand the problem of poor listening and how to promote active listening.

Barriers to Effective Communication

Communicating can be more of a challenge than you think, when you realize the many things that can stand in the way of effective communication. These include filtering, selective perception, information overload, emotional disconnects, lack of source familiarity or credibility, workplace gossip, semantics, gender differences, differences in meaning between Sender and Receiver, and biased language. Let’s examine each of these barriers.

Filtering is the distortion or withholding of information to manage a person’s reactions. Some examples of filtering include a manager who keeps her division’s poor sales figures from her boss, the vice president, fearing that the bad news will make him angry. The old saying, “Don’t shoot the messenger!” illustrates the tendency of Receivers (in this case, the vice president) to vent their negative response to unwanted Messages on the Sender. A gatekeeper (the vice president’s assistant, perhaps) who doesn’t pass along a complete Message is also filtering. The vice president may delete the e-mail announcing the quarter’s sales figures before reading it, blocking the Message before it arrives.

As you can see, filtering prevents members of an organization from getting a complete picture of the way things are. To maximize your chances of sending and receiving effective communications, it’s helpful to deliver a Message in multiple ways and to seek information from multiple sources. In this way, the effect of any one person’s filtering the Message will be diminished.

Since people tend to filter bad news more during upward communication, it is also helpful to remember that those below you in an organization may be wary of sharing bad news. One way to defuse the tendency to filter is to reward employees who clearly convey information upward, regardless of whether the news is good and bad.

Here are some of the criteria that individuals may use when deciding whether to filter a Message or pass it on:

• Past experience: Was the Sender rewarded for passing along news of this kind in the past, or was she criticized?
• Knowledge, perception of the speaker: Has the Receiver’s direct superior made it clear that “no news is good news?”
• Emotional state, involvement with the topic, level of attention: Does the Sender’s fear of failure or criticism prevent him from conveying the Message? Is the topic within his realm of expertise, increasing his confidence in his ability to decode it, or is he out of his comfort zone when it comes to evaluating the Message’s significance? Are personal concerns impacting his ability to judge the Message’s value?

Once again, filtering can lead to miscommunications in business. Each listener translates the Message into his or her own words, creating his or her own version of what was said (Alessandra, 1993).

Selective Perception

Selective perception refers to filtering what we see and hear to suit our own needs. This process is often unconscious. Small things can command our attention when we’re visiting a new place—a new city or a new company. Over time, however, we begin to make assumptions about the way things are on the basis of our past experience. Often, much of this process is unconscious. “We simply are bombarded with too much stimuli every day to pay equal attention to everything so we pick and choose according to our own needs (Pope, 2008).” Selective perception is a time-saver, a necessary tool in a complex culture. But it can also lead to mistakes.

Think back to the earlier example conversation between Bill, who was asked to order more toner cartridges, and his boss. Since Bill found his boss’s to-do list to be unreasonably demanding, he assumed the request could wait. (How else could he do everything else on the list?) The boss, assuming that Bill had heard the urgency in her request, assumed that Bill would place the order before returning to the other tasks on her list.

Both members of this organization were using selective perception to evaluate the communication. Bill’s perception was that the task of ordering could wait. The boss’s perception was that her time frame was clear, though unstated. When two selective perceptions collide, a misunderstanding occurs.

Information Overload

Information overload can be defined as “occurring when the information processing demands on an individual’s time to perform interactions and internal calculations exceed the supply or capacity of time available for such processing (Schick, et. al., 1990).” Messages reach us in countless ways every day. Some are societal—advertisements that we may hear or see in the course of our day. Others are professional—e-mails, and memos, voice mails, and conversations from our colleagues. Others are personal—messages and conversations from our loved ones and friends.

Add these together and it’s easy to see how we may be receiving more information than we can take in. This state of imbalance is known as information overload. Experts note that information overload is “A symptom of the high-tech age, which is too much information for one human being to absorb in an expanding world of people and technology. It comes from all sources including TV, newspapers, and magazines as well as wanted and unwanted regular mail, e-mail and faxes. It has been exacerbated enormously because of the formidable number of results obtained from Web search engines (PC Magazine, 2008).” Other research shows that working in such fragmented fashion has a significant negative effect on efficiency, creativity, and mental acuity (Overholt, 2001).

Going back to our example of Bill. Let’s say he’s in his cubicle on the phone with a supplier. While he’s talking, he hears the chime of e-mail alerting him to an important message from his boss. He’s scanning through it quickly, while still on the phone, when a coworker pokes his head around the cubicle corner to remind Bill that he’s late for a staff meeting. The supplier on the other end of the phone line has just given Bill a choice among the products and delivery dates he requested. Bill realizes he missed hearing the first two options, but he doesn’t have time to ask the supplier to repeat them all or to try reconnecting to place the order at a later time. He chooses the third option—at least he heard that one, he reasons, and it seemed fair. How good was Bill’s decision amid all the information he was processing at the same time?

Emotional disconnects

Emotional disconnects happen when the Sender or the Receiver is upset, whether about the subject at hand or about some unrelated incident that may have happened earlier. An effective communication requires a Sender and a Receiver who are open to speaking and listening to one another, despite possible differences in opinion or personality. One or both parties may have to put their emotions aside to achieve the goal of communicating clearly. A Receiver who is emotionally upset tends to ignore or distort what the Sender is saying. A Sender who is emotionally upset may be unable to present ideas or feelings effectively.

Lack of Source Credibility

Lack of source familiarity or credibility can derail communications, especially when humor is involved. Have you ever told a joke that fell flat? You and the Receiver lacked the common context that could have made it funny. (Or yes, it could have just been a lousy joke.) Sarcasm and irony are subtle, and potentially hurtful, commodities in business. It’s best to keep these types of communications out of the workplace as their benefits are limited, and their potential dangers are great. Lack of familiarity with the Sender can lead to misinterpreting humor, especially in less-rich information channels like e-mail. For example, an e-mail from Jill that ends with, “Men, like hens, should boil in vats of oil,” could be interpreted as antimale if the Receiver didn’t know that Jill has a penchant for rhyme and likes to entertain coworkers by making up amusing sayings.

Similarly, if the Sender lacks credibility or is untrustworthy, the Message will not get through. Receivers may be suspicious of the Sender’s motivations (“Why am I being told this?”). Likewise, if the Sender has communicated erroneous information in the past, or has created false emergencies, his current Message may be filtered.

Workplace gossip, also known as the grapevine , is a lifeline for many employees seeking information about their company (Kurland & Pelled, 2000). Researchers agree that the grapevine is an inevitable part of organizational life. Research finds that 70% of all organizational communication occurs at the grapevine level (Crampton, 1998).

Employees trust their peers as a source of Messages, but the grapevine’s informal structure can be a barrier to effective communication from the managerial point of view. Its grassroots structure gives it greater credibility in the minds of employees than information delivered through official channels, even when that information is false.

Some downsides of the office grapevine are that gossip offers politically minded insiders a powerful tool for disseminating communication (and self-promoting miscommunications) within an organization. In addition, the grapevine lacks a specific Sender, which can create a sense of distrust among employees—who is at the root of the gossip network? When the news is volatile, suspicions may arise as to the person or persons behind the Message. Managers who understand the grapevine’s power can use it to send and receive Messages of their own. They also decrease the grapevine’s power by sending official Messages quickly and accurately, should big news arise.

Semantics is the study of meaning in communication. Words can mean different things to different people, or they might not mean anything to another person. For example, companies often have their own acronyms and buzzwords (called business jargon) that are clear to them but impenetrable to outsiders. For example, at IBM, GBS is focusing on BPTS, using expertise acquired from the PwC purchase (which had to be sold to avoid conflicts of interest in light of SOX) to fend other BPO providers and inroads by the Bangalore tiger. Does this make sense to you? If not, here’s the translation: IBM’s Global Business Services (GBS) division is focusing on offering companies Business Process Transformation Services (BPTS), using the expertise it acquired from purchasing the management consulting and technology services arm of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), which had to sell the division because of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX, enacted in response to the major accounting scandals like the Enron). The added management expertise puts it above business process outsourcing (BPO) vendors who focus more on automating processes rather than transforming and improving them. Chief among these BPO competitors is Wipro, often called the “Bangalore tiger” because of its geographic origin and aggressive growth.

Given the amount of Messages we send and receive every day, it makes sense that humans try to find shortcuts—a way to communicate things in code. In business, this code is known as jargon . Jargon is the language of specialized terms used by a group or profession. It is common shorthand among experts and if used sensibly can be a quick and efficient way of communicating. Most jargon consists of unfamiliar terms, abstract words, nonexistent words, acronyms, and abbreviations, with an occasional euphemism thrown in for good measure. Every profession, trade, and organization has its own specialized terms (Wright, 2008). At first glance, jargon seems like a good thing—a quicker way to send an effective communication, the way text message abbreviations can send common messages in a shorter, yet understandable way. But that’s not always how things happen. Jargon can be an obstacle to effective communication, causing listeners to tune out or fostering ill-feeling between partners in a conversation. When jargon rules the day, the Message can get obscured.

A key question to ask before using jargon is, “Who is the Receiver of my Message?” If you are a specialist speaking to another specialist in your area, jargon may be the best way to send a message while forging a professional bond—similar to the way best friends can communicate in code. For example, an information technology (IT) systems analyst communicating with another IT employee may use jargon as a way of sharing information in a way that reinforces the pair’s shared knowledge. But that same conversation should be held in standard English, free of jargon, when communicating with staff members outside the IT group.

Online Follow-Up

Here is a Web site of 80 buzz words in business:

http://www.amanet.org/movingahead/editorial2002_2003/nov03_80buzzwords.htm

and a discussion of why slang is a problem:

http://sbinfocanada.about.com/od/speakforsuccesscourse/a/speechlesson5.htm .

Gender Differences

Gender differences in communication have been documented by a number of experts, including linguistics professor Deborah Tannen in her best-selling book You Just Don’t Understand: Women and Men in Conversation (Tannen, 1991). Men and women work together every day. But their different styles of communication can sometimes work against them. Generally speaking, women like to ask questions before starting a project, while men tend to “jump right in.” A male manager who’s unaware of how many women communicate their readiness to work may misperceive a ready employee as not ready.

Another difference that has been noticed is that men often speak in sports metaphors, while many women use their home as a starting place for analogies. Women who believe men are “only talking about the game” may be missing out on a chance to participate in a division’s strategy and opportunities for teamwork and “rallying the troops” for success (Krotz, 2008).

“It is important to promote the best possible communication between men and women in the workplace,” notes gender policy adviser Dee Norton, who provided the above example. “As we move between the male and female cultures, we sometimes have to change how we behave (speak the language of the other gender) to gain the best results from the situation. Clearly, successful organizations of the future are going to have leaders and team members who understand, respect and apply the rules of gender culture appropriately (Norton, 2008).”

Being aware of these gender differences can be the first step in learning to work with them, as opposed to around them. For example, keep in mind that men tend to focus more on competition, data, and orders in their communications, while women tend to focus more on cooperation, intuition, and requests. Both styles can be effective in the right situations, but understanding the differences is a first step in avoiding misunderstandings based on them.

Differences in meaning often exist between the Sender and Receiver. “Mean what you say, and say what you mean .” It’s an easy thing to say. But in business, what do those words mean? Different words mean different things to different people. Age, education, and cultural background are all factors that influence how a person interprets words. The less we consider our audience, the greater our chances of miscommunication will be. When communication occurs in the cross-cultural context, extra caution is needed given that different words will be interpreted differently across cultures and different cultures have different norms regarding nonverbal communication. Eliminating jargon is one way of ensuring that our words will convey real-world concepts to others. Speaking to our audience, as opposed to about ourselves, is another. Nonverbal Messages can also have different meanings.

Table 12.1 Gestures Around the Globe

Adapted from information in Axtell, R. E. (1998). Gestures: The do’s and taboos of body language around the world . New York: John Wiley.

Managers who speak about “long-term goals and profits” to a staff that has received scant raises may find their core Message (“You’re doing a great job—and that benefits the folks in charge!”) has infuriated the group they hoped to inspire. Instead, managers who recognize the “contributions” of their staff and confirm that this work is contributing to company goals in ways “that will benefit the source of our success—our employees as well as executives,” will find their core Message (“You’re doing a great job—we really value your work”) is received as opposed to being misinterpreted.

Biased language can offend or stereotype others on the basis of their personal or group affiliation. The figure below provides a list of words that have the potential to be offensive in the left-hand column. The right-hand column provides more neutral words that you can use instead (Ashcraft & Mumby, 2003; Swift, 2007).

Figure 12.13 Avoiding Biased Language

Effective communication is clear, factual, and goal-oriented. It is also respectful. Referring to a person by one adjective (a brain , a diabetic , an invalid ) reduces that person to that one characteristic. Language that belittles or stereotypes a person poisons the communication process. Language that insults an individual or group based on age, ethnicity, sexual preference, or political beliefs violates public and private standards of decency, ranging from civil rights to corporate regulations.

The effort to create a neutral set of terms to refer to heritage and preferences has resulted in a debate over the nature of “political correctness.” Proponents of political correctness see it as a way to defuse the volatile nature of words that stereotyped groups and individuals in the past. Critics of political correctness see its vocabulary as stilted and needlessly cautious.

Many companies offer new employees written guides on standards of speech and conduct. These guides, augmented by common sense and courtesy, are solid starting points for effective, respectful workplace communication. Tips for appropriate workplace speech include but are not limited to

• Alternating the use of “he” and “she” when referring to people in general.
• Relying on human resources–generated guidelines.
• Remembering that terms that feel respectful or comfortable to us may not be comfortable or respectful to others.

Poor Listening and Active Listening

Former Chrysler CEO Lee Iacocca lamented, “I only wish I could find an institute that teaches people how to listen. After all, a good manager needs to listen at least as much as he needs to talk (Iacocca & Novak, 1984).” Research shows that listening skills are related to promotions (Sypher, et. al., 1989). A Sender may strive to deliver a Message clearly. But the Receiver’s ability to listen effectively is equally vital to effective communication. The average worker spends 55% of her workdays listening. Managers listen up to 70% each day. But listening doesn’t lead to understanding in every case. Listening takes practice, skill, and concentration.

According to University of San Diego professor Phillip Hunsaker, “The consequences of poor listening are lower employee productivity, missed sales, unhappy customers, and billions of dollars of increased cost and lost profits. Poor listening is a factor in low employee morale and increased turnover because employees do not feel their managers listen to their needs, suggestions, or complaints (Alessandra, et. al., 1993).” Clearly, if you hope to have a successful career in management, it behooves you to learn to be a good listener.

Alan Gulick, a Starbucks spokesperson, puts better listening to work in pursuit of better profits. If every Starbucks employee misheard one $10 order each day, he calculates, their errors would cost the company a billion dollars annually. To teach its employees to listen, Starbucks created a code that helps employees taking orders hear the size, flavor, and use of milk or decaf coffee. The person making the drink echoes the order aloud.

How can you improve your listening skills? The Roman philosopher Cicero said, “Silence is one of the great arts of conversation.” How often have we been in conversation with someone else where we are not really listening but itching to convey our portion? This behavior is known as “rehearsing.” It suggests the Receiver has no intention of considering the Sender’s Message and intends to respond to an earlier point instead. Clearly, rehearsing is an impediment to the communication process. Effective communication relies on another kind of listening: active listening.

Active listening can be defined as giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times (Onet Center, 2008).Active listening creates a real-time relationship between the Sender and the Receiver by acknowledging the content and receipt of a Message. As we’ve seen in the Starbucks example, repeating and confirming a Message’s content offers a way to confirm that the correct content is flowing between colleagues. The process creates a bond between coworkers while increasing the flow and accuracy of messaging.

Carl Rogers, founder of the “person-centered” approach to psychology, formulated five rules for active listening:

• Listen for message content
• Listen for feelings
• Respond to feelings
• Note all cues
• Paraphrase and restate

The good news is that listening is a skill that can be learned (Brownell, 1990). The first step is to decide that we want to listen. Casting aside distractions, such as by reducing background or internal noise, is critical. The Receiver takes in the Sender’s Message silently, without speaking. Second, throughout the conversation, show the speaker that you’re listening. You can do this nonverbally by nodding your head and keeping your attention focused on the speaker. You can also do it verbally, by saying things like, “Yes,” “That’s interesting,” or other such verbal cues. As you’re listening, pay attention to the Sender’s body language for additional cues about how they’re feeling. Interestingly, silence plays a major role in active listening. During active listening, we are trying to understand what has been said, and in silence, we can consider the implications. We can’t consider information and reply to it at the same time. That’s where the power of silence comes into play. Finally, if anything is not clear to you, ask questions. Confirm that you’ve heard the message accurately, by repeating back a crucial piece like, “Great, I’ll see you at 2 p.m. in my office.” At the end of the conversation, a “thank you” from both parties is an optional but highly effective way of acknowledging each other’s teamwork.

In summary, active listening creates a more dynamic relationship between a Receiver and a Sender. It strengthens personal investment in the information being shared. It also forges healthy working relationships among colleagues by making Speakers and Listeners equally valued members of the communication process.

Key Takeaway

Many barriers to effective communication exist. Examples include filtering, selective perception, information overload, emotional disconnects, lack of source familiarity or credibility, workplace gossip, semantics, gender differences, differences in meaning between Sender and Receiver, and biased language. The Receiver can enhance the probability of effective communication by engaging in active listening, which involves (1) giving one’s full attention to the Sender and (2) checking for understanding by repeating the essence of the Message back to the Sender.

• Most people are poor listeners. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Please support your position.
• Please share an example of how differences in shared meaning have affected you.
• Give an example of selective perception.
• Do you use jargon at or in your classes? If so, do you think it helps or hampers communication? Why or why not?
• In your experience, how is silence used in communication? How does your experience compare with the recommended use of silence in active listening?

Alessandra, T. (1993). Communicating at work . New York: Fireside.

Alessandra, T., Garner, H., & Hunsaker, P. L. (1993). Communicating at work . New York: Simon & Schuster.

Ashcraft, K., & Mumby, D. K. (2003). Reworking gender . Thousand Oaks, CA, Sage; Miller, C., &amp.

Brownell, J. (1990). Perceptions of effective listeners: A management study. Journal of Business Communications , 27 , 401–415.

Crampton, S. M. (1998). The informal communication network: factors influencing grapevine activity. Public Personnel Management . Retrieved July 2, 2008, from http://www.allbusiness.com/management/735210-1.html .

Iacocca, L., & Novak, W. (1984). Iacocca: An autobiography . New York: Bantam Press.

Krotz, J. L. (n.d.). 6 tips for bridging the communication gap. Retrieved July 2, 2008, from Microsoft Small Business Center Web site, http://www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness/resources/management/leadership-training/women-vs-men-6-tips-for-bridging-the-communication-gap.aspx .

Kurland, N. B., & Pelled, L. H. (2000). Passing the word: Toward a model of gossip and power in the workplace. Academy of Management Review , 25 , 428–438.

Norton, D. Gender and communication—finding common ground. Retrieved July 2, 2008, from http://www.uscg.mil/leadership/gender.htm .

O*NET Resource Center, the nation’s primary source of occupational information. Retrieved July 2, 2008, from http://online.onetcenter.org/skills .

Overholt, A. (2001, February). Intel’s got (too much) mail. Fast Company . Retrieved July 2, 2008, from http://www.fastcompany.com/online/44/intel.html and http://blogs.intel.com/it/2006/10/information_overload.php .

PC Magazine, retrieved July 1, 2008, from PC Magazine encyclopedia Web site, http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia_term/0,2542,t=information+overload&i=44950,00.asp , and reinforced by information in Dawley, D. D., & Anthony, W. P. (2003). User perceptions of e-mail at work. Journal of Business and Technical Communication , 17 , 170–200.

Pope, R. R. Selective perception. Illinois State University. Retrieved December 1, 2008, from http://lilt.ilstu.edu/rrpope/rrpopepwd/articles/perception3.html .

Schick, A. G., Gordon, L. A., & Haka, S. (1990). Information overload: A temporal approach. Accounting, Organizations, and Society, 15 , 199–220.

Swift, K. (1980). The handbook of nonsexist writing . New York: Lippincott & Crowell; Procter, M. (2007, September 11). Unbiased language . Retrieved July 2, 2008, from http://www.utoronto.ca/writing/unbias.html .

Sypher, B. D., Bostrom, R. N., & Seibert, J. H. (1989). Listening, communication abilities, and success at work. Journal of Business Communication , 26 , 293–303.

Tannen, D. (1991). You just don’t understand: Women and men in conversation. New York: Ballantine.

Wright, N. Keep it jargon-free . Retrieved July 2, 2008, from http://www.plainlanguage.gov/howto/wordsuggestions/jargonfree.cfm .

Principles of Management Copyright © 2015 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Barriers to Effective Communication

As things become heated up, a big argument spews between Nicole and Petra. They are throwing cuss words and hurtful statements at each other without realizing the kind of consequences it would later lead to. In that overwhelming moment, both forgot everything about each other and let their impulses completely take over.

So what is the matter exactly?

Source: Hill Street Studios/Blend Images/Adobe Stock

Petra: you took the wrong turn. We were supposed to turn left.

Nicole: I’m trying to find the way too, Petra. I’m not a walking GPS.

*the sound of horns and traffic intensifies outside*

Petra: Urgh. I hate this.

Nicole: You hate me? Yeah after all that I’ve done this is what I get; your hate.

Petra: No I didn’t say that.

Nicole: Yes! You said exactly that.

And the conversation goes on…

What do we observe in this example? Some of the external factors are affecting the quality of the conversation shared. So, what are the different kinds of barriers that hamper the effectiveness of communication?

What are Communication Barriers?

Communication barriers are internal and external factors which impede the quality of communication. They act as hindrances in the listening or speaking aspect of communication; thus distorting its real nature and leading to misinterpretations and misunderstandings.

The process of communication goes through various barriers; each of them affecting communication in different ways. What type of communicational barrier did Nicole and Petra face? Let’s find out!

Types of Barriers

The barriers to effective communication come in many ways. Some are much apparent and some are so subtle yet significant. These barriers are classified based on their nature such as physical barriers, psychological barriers, cultural barriers, language barriers, semantic barriers etc.

1. Physical Barriers

Physical barriers are any kind of physical or environmental factors that hinder communication from taking place effectively. These are obstacles present in the environment which makes communication a difficult task to pursue.

Some of the most common physical barriers are space-proximity , noise, time, place and medium etc. These factors can sabotage the value of communication as they can affect one’s ability to efficiently process and interpret information.

The COVID-2020 Pandemic-many people find it difficult to work from home since the network issues are found to be common in rural and remote areas. Also, not everyone’s home can be a good ambience for the job. It even makes the job so hectic.

It’s better to make a private workspace that is free of noise disturbance and other interruptions. Distractions such as using social media, and games on phone may suck up your valuable production hours.

Ways to avoid /reduce the barrier

Based on the specific problem at hand, measures can be adopted to work with them and reduce them during communication to a great extent.

• Using novel technological developments such as telephone calls, e-mails, Whatsapp, Facebook etc helps to a greater extent in reducing the distance in interpersonal communication . Since it helps in the instant transfer of messages.
• Always choose a good ambience that perfectly suits the type of meetings (formal and informal) where there is a lesser crowd, lesser noise and better ventilation.
• The congested place with inconvenient old rickety items of furniture, poor lighting, and misaligned workstation are some of the factors that ruin the conversation, especially in an organization.
• Setting a particular time for the board meeting, group discussions, feedback sessions etc., separately can minimize the misinterpretation of the flow of information within the organization. i.e., communicating one thing at a time.
• Make sure the reception and help desks are always open and have ease of access for any employee in the office. Since it helps in immediate doubt clarification and aids assistance instantly for a candidate.

2. Psychological Barriers

When the effectiveness of the communication gets hampered due to the psychological states of the sender or the recipient, it can be termed as psychological barriers of communication .

As humans experience various complex feelings and emotions like anger, depression and stress, mental states and disorders, drowsiness, fatigue, frustration, excitement, boredom, disinterest, nervousness etc. are some of the aspects of psychological states that can act as pawns or portray as interference in making communication efficient.

Other psychological factors would include states such as defensiveness and lack of self-esteem. When a person is defensive, they tend to block out the opinions of others and make communication a one-way process.

On the other hand, a person with a poor sense of self would avoid expressing their views believing that they would make a fool out of themselves. Hence, their contribution to the conversation becomes very less to nothing at all.

For example, although Kiara was surrounded by people discussing her favorite topic “world religions”, she kept to herself because she believes she would embarrass herself somehow by saying the wrong things.

• Make sure you and your opponent are mentally prepared for the conversation.
• Watch out for the bodily cues of the receiver and try to understand the level of interest and readiness to receive the information. It’s always good to have an open and honest inquiry about their physical and mental state before you proceed.
• For example, when Trisha was starting to talk about her rude boss, Katy informed that she was not in the mood to listen but promised to hear it all out when she felt better.
• The sender should be sensitive to the mindset of the receiver. For example, talking to a person with anxiety about different anxiety-provoking situations may not be the best thing to do.
• Acknowledging the thoughts and ideas of the speaker to make them feel validated. This may help establish interpersonal relationships also.
• It’s always better to keep quiet while you are angry. Anger and haste hinder good counsel.
• Barriers such as anger can be dealt with by practicing relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises and grounding techniques.
• Sometimes feeling overwhelmed could be another barrier to communication. This can be tackled by either informing the speaker about it or choosing to take some time out to recharge.

3. Cultural Barriers

Jay is an exchange student from India. When he met the people of Canada for the first time, he was thrilled about being in a new country and witnessing a new culture. Although he enjoyed his stay, with time he found it difficult to get along with people and experienced intense culture shock. He realized that the culture that he came from was far different from what he is experiencing now.

When the effectiveness of communication gets affected between people due to differences in the cultural background, this can lead to the cultural barrier . Some cultures are very formal in their interactions with people whereas other cultures are much more informal. Such differences can result in awkward and offensive situations.

Often, people hold certain beliefs about some cultures. These beliefs influence interactions with people from different cultures and this can be a major barrier.

Ethnocentrism is another barrier where a group of people experience a sense of perceived superiority over their cultural, religious, and ethnic backgrounds over other cultures, religions and ethnicity. When such beliefs are held strongly, it hindrances the way of effective communication.

There are three different issues related to cross-cultural communication .

• Word connotation: This can be a major problem in cross-cultural communication as one word may mean two different things in two different cultures. So this can lead to misinterpretations. For example in Japanese, the word “Hai” refers to “I’m listening” rather than “Yes, I agree”. So during negotiations, this could be giving wrong messages.
• Semantics: When translating words from one language to another, the meaning might slightly differ, or it might be viewed from a different light. For example, for words such as efficiency and free market, there is no direct translation in Russian.
• Tone differences: Some cultures adopt a formal way of addressing people and other cultures use an informal tone of language. In other cultures, the tone differs based on context. Hence, using an inappropriate tone of language might be embarrassing and even offensive. For example, in a country like America, people are usually loud and assertive in the way they interact. However, in a country like Japan, people are generally soft-spoken and always put the needs and the demands of others first rather than their own. Such a difference could be because the Japanese preserve their collectivist culture whereas Americans hold on to their individualist culture.
• If you are an expat who works globally or in an MNC or simply a tourist, gaining an intercultural awareness is an inevitable quality. Since it prevents you from offensive acts, violating public rules, etc.
• It is better to assume differences than similarities. So instead of doing things the indigenous way, it can be kept more respectful and formal as that would save a lot of trouble and embarrassment.
• Before jumping to conclusions, it is better to understand their behavior from a cultural context rather than just the situational factors.
• Be empathetic to the person on the other side on account of their cultural differences, educational background, ethnicity etc.
• Give people the benefit of doubt and consider your observations as nothing but a hypothesis and look out for facts to support your beliefs.
• Using hand gestures and actions, sign language can come in great help of mutual understanding between foreigners who do not speak the same language as you.

4. Language Barriers

Have you ever spoken to a foreigner? Or with the one who doesn’t speak your language? Recall how difficult it was then. Due to varying factors such as literacy rate, age, ethnic background etc., the proficiency of language might differ from one person to another, and this can act as a linguistic barrier to the smooth flow of communication.

Language is considered the ultimate resource for communication. Yet, there are famous personalities like Lewis Carroll who suffered from Autism and stammering and still told many stories that people across the globe read and admired. He became a part of every child’s happy childhood.

As shocking as this may sound, the current American president Joe Biden was once a victim of a speech impediment. He had severe stuttering as a child and went through years of bullying until he decided to help himself and get over it once and for all.

• Using more complicated words and technical terms, jargon can make comprehension difficult.
• Incorporating relevant body language such as hand movements can be helpful.
• Using visual methods of communication can fulfil the purpose.
• Avoid ambiguity and verbosity for simple, precise, and clear written and oral communication.
• Apps like language learning and translators can help you a lot in the situation of being a remote worker and a traveler.

5. Technological Barriers

Although technology has made communication much easier, there are also newly emerging issues that must be addressed such as outdated technology systems, lack of proper network connection, issues with the devices etc. and other secondary issues such as computer viruses, a packed inbox, emails being saved in outboxes rather than getting sent. These issues may come to interrupt the way of having effective communication.

In recent times, the global pandemic has pushed the mode of communication to tech-based mediums, and it has never been as facilitating. Technology helped with the easy access to resources, helplines, availability of human resources etc. and made the entire journey less gruesome than otherwise.

• Updating the systems at regular intervals, installing tools and accessories such as anti-virus to maintain the good condition of the devices.
• Adopting new digital communication software such as Zoom, Meet, Team etc. to effectively streamline engagement.
• Providing proper training about the software installations, equipment handling and machinery operations to the employees must be made mandatory. These issues can ruin the communication at every level between colleagues and leads to loss of productivity.
• As schools and universities have shifted to online mode of tutoring, along with it comes to the issue of technical issues such as lack of proper connection, video and audio issues, software malfunctions etc. and other issues like lack of knowledge about software operation etc. these issues can be handled by conducting formal seminars and presentations where students and the instructors are taught about the entire operating functions of the software and computer systems.

6. Organizational Barriers

Although communication is a crucial part of an organizational setup, such an environment also witnesses its share of barriers that prevent communication from taking place successfully. Some of the issues faced in an organization are the complicated structures, the hierarchical positions, facilities within the organization, feelings of fear and nervousness when meeting a superior etc.

For example, Delta is a top MNC company where more than 5000 employees work. In one of the branches, the employees are facing issues with Google assistants across all the departments for quite a few weeks. Since it had been helpful in the quick retrieval of information, this has caused a lot of delays in the submission of work and caused issues in the flow of communication among the employees within the organization.

The employees put it across to the superiors only to find no action being taken towards this. This leaves the organization with a bunch of annoyed employees and a truckload of pending work.

The superiors aren’t taking it to the managers because they are currently working on downsizing the organization. Any kind of negative remark on the side of the employees would result in immediate termination of employment. Hence, the manager must put across the issue in the politest manner possible.

The power consciousness felt among the employees and the debilitating fear of losing the job affect how the information is conveyed to the authorities. The team leads were in the place to filter down the information to a simple outline rather than an elaborate explanation to avoid meeting with unpleasant consequences.

This case can be an example of the issue in vertical communication and also the differences in positions within an organization.

• The number of hierarchical levels can be reduced as that would ensure a smooth flow of communication between superiors and subordinates.
• The technological and other required facilities can be levelled up to facilitate communication within the organization.
• Organizations can create open, transparent channels for communication among every employee and managers within.
• Building facilities like suggestion boxes, and open portals accessible to every member of the organization can create room for everyone to engage in effective communication.
• Appropriate policies and rules should be established within the organization to enable effective communication.
• The organization should be designed in such a way that people can meet each other face-to-face and interact.
• The organizational structure should be given higher priority to practicality rather than aesthetics to ensure efficient communication among the employees and superiors.

7. Semantic Barriers

Juan: And that’s how quantum physics works.

Tom: Whoa. That’s a lot of information. But mate, it’s all Greek to me.

Juan: What do you mean? I spoke in perfect English.

In this example, Tom used the idiom “It’s all Greek to me” and by that he meant to say that the information was very complicated for him to comprehend. However, Juan didn’t get the message.

This is an example of the semantic barrier . It occurs when the meaning of a message is misunderstood or misinterpreted due to the lack of understanding of the language, or due to its nuances or the usage of complex sentences and vocabulary which makes comprehension difficult.

It also happens because of the use of technical jargon, bad expressions, words with multiple meanings, lack of information and sometimes even faulty translations.

• It is advisable to always use words which are simple, clear and easily understandable.
• Make sure to use a language which is commonly spoken by people.
• Be explicit about your information. Avoid sarcasm and coded messages.
• Improve your cross-cultural awareness to scale up your communication game.
• In case you’re worried about misinterpretations, write the content down or send a formal e-mail to the respective person.

8. Personal Barrier

Personal barriers to communication are personal characteristics that deter communication from taking place effectively. Personal characteristics involve personality, social style, level of confidence, clothing, emotions, lack of knowledge etc. some personality types are more likely to be expressive about their thoughts and opinions in comparison to other types of personality.

For example, extroverts are sociable and talk about their inner thoughts without reluctance and on the other hand, introverts prefer keeping their thoughts to themselves rather than bringing them to light. Hence, such personality differences can act as a barrier to enabling effective communication.

Another personal barrier would be the lack of confidence. A person with low confidence would experience hesitation in expressing his views believing that he would be mocked or ridiculed, and this also hampers communication.

Clothing could be another factor that could turn out to be a clincher or a deal breaker. Hence, clothing in such a way that is irrelevant to the situation could act as a barrier to communication.

Some candidates show fear of authority, unwillingness to communicate in the workplace. They find difficult to express their opinions in situations including group discussion, board meetings etc.,

• Always adopt a socially acceptable stance when interacting with people.
• Master the art of listening empathetically.
• Learn to keep your emotions under control.
• Upscale yourself by gaining knowledge about the recent trends in different fields.
• Improve your vocabulary, confidence, sense of clothing and personality to feel competent.

9. Physiological Barriers

Physiological barriers occur when information cannot be passed on successfully due to the physical condition of the sender. The physical condition includes loss of eyesight, mental illnesses, physical illnesses, hearing and speaking impairment, even the learning disabilities like dyslexia, loss of memory, excessive fatigue and tiredness etc. these conditions may make communication a difficult process.

The most celebrated physicist Stephen Hawking suffered from a condition called Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis which paralyzed his muscles. This condition also affected his ability to speak. Yet, he managed to accomplish such astounding feats of discovery about the universe.

On the other hand, there is Louis Braille who lost his eyesight at a very early age. He invented reading and writing system for those with visual impairment. His invention has been the sole cause of many literates with visual impairment.

Many such great personalities broke the statement, “physical disability can be a hindrance for…”

• It is essential to be considerate of a person struggling with such physical conditions.
• Based on the condition of the receiver, devise a strategy to ensure information is sent and received successfully.
• Couple your verbal information with other mediums to make comprehension easy on their part.
• Emphasize your information and repeat them if necessary.
• People with impairments can handle difficult situations by using the assistance of technology. There are many features available in smartphones such as voice detection, Google Assistant and many applications that are designed to help people with impairment. For example, applications such as Supersense, Be my eyes work exclusively for people with visual impairment to find objects and navigate well.

10. Gender Barriers

Gender barriers to communication occur because of the differences like interaction and the expectations placed on each gender. Although men and women live in the same world, they tend to live parallel lives more than overlapping ones. The topics of interactions differ vastly between men and women.

Men’s talk focuses on information, current affairs, competing, creating expertise and being assertive. On the other hand, women’s talk throws light on offering emotional support, and fostering trust, bonds and loving relationships.

As both the genders differ in their way of addressing one another, they are always mistaken for being non-empathetic toward each other. But the fact is they just address in a way they believe would prove beneficial.

John Gray, in his book “Men are from Mars, women are from Venus” beautifully describes how the two genders differ in their way of handling stressors, interacting with one another, and solving problems.

Even during the process of decision-making, gender bias seems to play its role. It has been found in a study that women are more likely to take disadvantageous risky decisions compared to men in the face of a stereotype threat condition and when they greatly fear negative evaluation from others.

This explains why women go to a great extent to maintain relationships and give higher importance to the judgments of others, which men can never be found practising.

Gender prejudice is a phenomenon that makes its presence even in professional settings. Women are typically prejudiced to be capable of certain roles such as teaching, baking, designing, crafting, cooking etc. as these are considered “women’s work”. Meanwhile they are considered unfit for jobs that require physical strength and resilience.

Roles such as firefighting, beekeeping, astronomy, boxing etc. are reserved for men as women are too fragile for such roles. When such prejudices exist within the human mind, it prevents open-mindedness and respect for differences in opinions and hence affects communication immeasurably.

• The first way to reduce the barrier of gender in communication is to understand that men and women are two different people who communicate differently.
• Learn about the nature of both genders and address them accordingly.
• If the opposite gender doesn’t welcome your response, try to modify it or ask them to suggest an alternative.
• It is also crucial to be alert to the subtle cues both the genders give out and plan your response accordingly.

11. Chronomatic Barrier

Of the many barriers to communication, time is an important one. Time can be a determining factor in the effectiveness of communication. Chronomatic barrier refers to the issues in communication because of time. Being able to send a timely message can have a better impact than sending something during an irrelevant period.

For example, a person sending a letter to someone, regarding an emergency which is only received weeks later. Such a barrier usually occurs as a result of physical distance between the sender and the receiver or even the differences in time zone between both the parties.

In some situations, the right messages are sent during the wrong timings. For example, an angry wife who is getting ready to go out asks her husband “How do I look?” and the husband replies “with your eyes”. This was a great comedy but delivered at a wrong time.

In the example, the wife meant to ask if she looked presentable, but the husband just took the opportunity to make a light joke out of it. However, considering the wife is already mad at him, the joke could’ve been saved for a better time.

“A justice delayed is a justice denied” is a famous saying that emphasizes the importance of a well-timed judgment. Some messages would lose their value and influence if not expressed at the right moment. Even if the message was sent out an hour or even a minute later, it may not produce the same kind of results.

For example, Ray and Zen are questioned about a stolen purse. Although Zen was the culprit, he claims himself innocent and this resulted in Ray being prevented from attending the exam the next day. Although Zen confessed his mistake later, Ray faced the consequences, nevertheless.

• To reduce the barrier of time, one can adopt less time-consuming novel mediums such as Whatsapp, Instagram, Facebook etc. can also be used in the instant transfer of messages.
• Be sensitive about the context and the demands of the situation. Make sure that your message is delivered is appropriate for the time and place.
• Be prompt about the medium of communication that you choose for your message to reach the appropriate timing. For example, an emergency message must be informed instantly through the phone rather than waiting to convey face-to-face.
• When talking to people from different time zones, look out for a time that wouldn’t interfere with their routine. Make pre-calculations about a time before you commence your interaction.

12. Wrong Choice of Channels

Sometimes a person may send an appropriate message yet choose the wrong channel to transfer and that ruins the efficacy of the intended message. The wrong choice of channel is a kind of barrier where an unsuitable channel is chosen to deliver an important message.

For example, an employee requests his boss for leave verbally rather than sending a formal e-mail or a letter stating his reason. Although the message is the same, when the employee chooses to break it down verbally, it shows a lack of professionalism on his part.

Variation in the channel helps the receiver understand the seriousness and the commitment to the message. Let’s say that a manager wants to appreciate an employee for reaching the target of the month. The manager can either send an E-mail praising her for her commitment to the job or send a text message or come by her desk and appreciate her personally.

Which would have a better impact? It’s quite apparent that the latter would be more appreciated by the employee as it shows the employer’s genuine acknowledgement of her dedication and efforts for the organization.

• When choosing the channel for a message, the sender should be sensitive to the complexity of the message, the abilities of the receiver, the consequences of choosing the wrong channel and the immediacy of the action to be taken.
• The sender should consider his options and choose a channel that would be best suited for the message he intends to send.
• Complement the medium of communication through which the message was delivered. If your message came to you through e-mail, send your response through the same medium.
• In case of discussing important information through an online mode of communication, it would be recommended to have a small discussion personally regarding the same.

13. Attitude/Perception Barriers

Barbara comes from a dysfunctional family system where her father engaged in various forms of abuse. This memory from her childhood has been etched so strong that she believes all men are abusive and misogynistic (strongly prejudiced against women). This belief comes in the way during every casual interaction she has with men. She always comes home with the same complaint from men for being outright and insolent.

Attitudinal barriers occur because of pre-existing assumptions, beliefs and attitudes about specific topics. These beliefs prevent a person from being open -minded and accepting of other’s perceptions and ideas.

These faulty beliefs can act as a barrier when communicating because they are narrowed down notions that are far from truth. Stereotyping can become a barrier when people act based on their beliefs and discount other’s narratives.

When people hold strong opinions about certain aspects, they tend to perceive them selectively. This is where a person chooses to perceive what they want while ignoring the rest. So, holding a belief that all men are patriarchal, will only allow Barbara to search and find the patriarchy in men while ignoring every other positive attribute.

• “ Agree to disagree ” – We all come from different racial and ethnic backgrounds and so our beliefs about the world also differ. These views are nothing but distorted opinions. One’s opinion may not necessarily align with that of others. So, we should learn to respect and accept differences in opinions and attitudes.
• Keeping our minds open to new thoughts, ability to see the world from other’s lenses, and exchange and acceptance of true valid ideologies can save a lot of interpersonal disputes.
• Remember to mind your language and soften the tone. Always be assertive.
• Be honest and open straight forward in questioning and feedback.
• Engage in mindful communication where you are actively processing things you say and hear from the other side.
• Give people the benefit of doubt and not assume that everyone is torn from the same piece of fabric.

Other Barriers to Communication

Besides these important barriers, there are also blocks to communication that takes a toll on its effectiveness.

• Non-assertive behavior
• Personal bias
• Unexpected circumstances
• Task preoccupation
• Lack of feedback

These aforementioned factors could also disguise themselves to be obstacles to enabling effective communication. After learning these barriers, we can finally understand that various barriers that can affect the effectiveness of our communication.

In the example of Nicole and Petra, there were various factors such as noise, anger, perceptual issues etc. that played a notorious role in affecting their communication. It is essential to be mindful of these barriers and overcome them for a smooth communicational ride.

Related Posts:

• Causes of Psychological Barriers - Definition and Examples
• Cultural Barriers of Communication
• Language Barriers in Communication
• Semantic Barriers
• Physical/Environmental Barriers
• Mis communication

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Communication Theory

12 examples of communication barriers and how to overcome them

There are many factors that can impact our ability to convey a point or message. The good news is that some of these factors are within our control.  From physical to emotional, cultural and even technological, barriers to communication can lead to misunderstanding and frustration in both personal and professional settings.

In this guide, we’ll answer what are barriers to effective communication, delve into 12 different types, provide real-world examples, and practical strategies to overcome them. Let’s take a look!

Causes of communication barriers

Before we dive into the different types of communication constraints, it's important to understand what causes a barrier in communication. Knowing and understanding each of these helps us become more aware of them, while giving space to overcome them. 

Differences in language and culture

Language and culture are two common factors that can create communication barriers. What means something in one culture, may have a different meaning in another. Words can easily become lost in translation or there may be a misunderstanding because of cultural ‘norms’. 

Even in the same language, regional dialects or industry-specific jargon can easily lead to confusion. This also goes for gestures and body language . What may be okay in one culture, may have negative connotations in others. 

Physical barriers

As its name suggests, physical barriers are physical obstacles that can interupt effective communication . This can be things like noise, distance or even technology that isn’t up to speed. For example, trying to have a conversation in a noisy factory can make it nearly impossible to hear and understand each other, leading to a breakdown in communication.

Emotional and psychological barriers

Our emotions and psychological states can significantly impact how we communicate with others, both in a personal and business setting. Stress, anxiety, and other emotions can completely change the way we interpret messages. For instance, someone who is feeling anxious may misinterpret neutral statements as negative, leading to unnecessary conflict or misunderstanding.

Attitudinal barriers

Attitudinal barriers come from personality conflicts, poor management , or a lack of motivation to communicate effectively. They can also arise when people think and act based on the wrong assumption or information. These barriers are more often seen within business relationships, where the hierarchy of leadership or a lack of openness within the workplace can prevent the flow of communication. For example, an employee might hesitate to share constructive feedback due to fear of how it will be received by managers.

Perceptual barriers

Perception is the way we view the world around us, and perceptual barriers occur when people have different viewpoints, interpretations, or biases. These barriers can prevent effective communication when people aren’t on the same page. For example, two people might read the same email but interpret its tone differently, leading to different emotional reactions. 

Types of barriers of communication

Now we’ve looked at the causes, it’s time to dive into the different types of barriers that exist. Each one comes with its own unique set of challenges and solutions. However, understanding the different types can be a great first step in overcoming them. 

So, what are barriers of communication? They’re the obstacles that stand in the way of clear, effective communication between a person or a group. From verbal to non-verbal and even written, we'll take a look at three types of barriers that you’re likely to encounter and practical tips for overcoming them. 

Verbal barriers

What better way to communicate than by talking face-to-face with someone? While verbal communication is the most straightforward form of communication, it comes with its own set of challenges. The words we choose, how we structure our sentences and even tone of voice can either help your message, or hinder it. Here are some of the most common verbal barriers.

Language barriers

It is hard to get on the same page when two people don’t speak the same language. These language barriers can often cause misunderstandings and lead to confusion. In these instances, translation technology or even relying more on non-verbal communication are both helpful tools, where an interpreter isn’t available. Even accents and regional dialects can still pose challenges, even if both people speak the same language. 

Lack of clarity and conciseness

Speaking clearly is an important factor of effective communication. Overcomplicating sentences, using ambiguous words and rambling can leave the listener feeling confused about what you’re trying to say. Instead, try to keep your communication short, sharp and to the point - especially if you’re presenting a new idea or trying to make a business case around a certain issue. 

Use of jargon and technical terms

Every industry has its own set of jargon and technical terms, which may not make sense to others outside of the field. From medical terms to certain technologies and even processes in sales roles , these terms can actually help communicate with the right audience. However, they can also serve as a barrier when communicating with people outside that group - especially if they have no prior understanding of the industry. So, use jargon sparingly and on a case-by-case basis.

Tone and inflection

The tone of your voice and the way you emphasise certain points can change the meaning of your words. Known as tone and inflection, this key verbal communication skill can also create a barrier. For example, the same sentence can be interpreted differently depending on what is said. One person may take it seriously, while another may think you’re being sarcastic or joking. 

Non-verbal barriers

We often place so much emphasis on the verbal side of communication, without realising the role that non-verbal cues also play. Equally as important, these cues can either complement your words, or act as a barrier. Here’s some of the most common non-verbal obstacles to clear communication.

Body language and gestures

Body language and gestures are the movements made while talking. They can often give away details of how you’re feeling and what you’re thinking - even when you don’t mean to. 

While body language is a great way to engage your audience, it can also be a barrier when misinterpreted or your gestures contradict what you’re saying. For example, crossed arms are often a sign of defensiveness, even if the spoken words are friendly and open. Nodding your head, on the other hand, may be seen as encouraging, giving the speaker more confidence to continue talking. 

Facial expressions

Just like body language and gestures, our facial expressions will often show what we’re thinking, without us needing to say anything at all. A smile, a frown, or a raised eyebrow can add layers of meaning to a conversation - and you may not even realise you’re doing it. 

Facial expressions can create barriers when they don’t match the words you’re saying, or are misinterpreted due to cultural differences. In some cases, it can be hard to remain aware of our expressions, however it’s an important thing to keep in mind when you’re communicating with others. 

Eye contact

If you think maintaining eye contact is a sign of paying attention, you’re right! This important element of non-verbal communication can help us focus and even understand what the other person is trying to say. However, on the flip side, too much eye contact can create discomfort, with some cultures believing eye contact to be a form of aggression. So, it’s important to find a balance, and you can do so with practice.

Distance and physical space

Have you ever tried to talk to someone on the other side of the room? Perhaps they’re standing just out of earshot? Whether it’s across a room or even outside, things like noise, distance and the space around you can all act as barriers to communication. 

So it’s possible to stand too far away, but is it possible to be too close? Definitely! Being in another’s personal space can come across as intrusive, and since everyone’s personal bubble is different, it’s best to take their cues if you’re unsure. For example, if you’re too close, the other person may take a step back or lean away.

Written barriers

In our digital age, there’s no denying that written communication is more important than ever. Whether it's emails , texts, or social media posts, the written word is used every day to share thoughts, feelings, and important messages. 

However, just like verbal  and non-verbal forms of communication, there are some barriers that can get in the way of effective written communication. Here’s some of the most common barriers that can muddle your message.

Poor grammar and spelling

Have you ever scrolled on a local news post, or found a product that looks great, only to find the description littered with typos? Poor grammar and spelling can easily undermine the credibility of your message - no matter how well formed it is. The difference between ‘their’, ‘they’re’ and ‘there’ might seem trivial, but it can place a seed of doubt in the reader's mind. 

These mistakes can also have consequences in the workplace. Even a simple typo can cause a loss of business and even damage a brand. It’s important to always double check your work, and if in doubt, look it up.

Incorrect use of punctuation

Punctuation marks are the ’traffic signals’ of language, helping to guide the reader through the text. The wrong use of punctuation can completely change the meaning of a sentence and make it confusing. The absence of a comma in even the most simple sentence can lead to misunderstandings that could have been avoided. Everyone has heard the example of, ‘Let's eat grandma’ and ‘Let's eat, grandma’. While commonly used, it’s a great example of how one symbol can change the entire meaning of a sentence. 

Poor sentence structure

The structure of your sentences can also serve as a barrier to effective written communication. Run-on or overly complex sentences - that is, sentences that are very long - can make the text hard to follow. When the sentences drag on, the reader can easily lose interest, misunderstand or even forget the original message.

As a tip, try and add some variety to your sentences, switching out between longer and shorter sentences. When in doubt, keep it short and simple. Of course, this can also depend on what you’re writing - a work email will be different to a social media post.

Lack of organisation and coherence

Well-organised text that follows a logical structure is easier to understand than their disorganised counterparts. A lack of organisation can make even the most well-intentioned message confusing and difficult to follow, while a well-organised message can be more persuasive. Logical flow, clear headings, bullet points (if needed) and concise paragraphs are all important for effective written communication.

How to overcome common barriers to communication

There are a large number of roadblocks that can pop up in different situations, all of which have an impact on effective communication. By understanding the different types of barriers in communication, you can focus on strategies to help overcome these challenges. 

Do your research 

One of the first steps in breaking down barriers is improving your language and cultural skills. If you know language is going to be a barrier beforehand, a little research goes a long way. You don't have to be fluent in multiple languages - as nice as that would be! Even learning basic phrases, such as greetings, or understanding the cultural etiquette of your audience, can go a long way. 

Choose the right medium

Not all communication channels are suitable for every type of message. For example, complex instructions that need to be remembered are often better communicated via email rather than a phone call. While a private message can serve just fine for a quick reminder. 

Sometimes you can even combine mediums. If you send a list of instructions over email, then follow up with a phone call to go through each of the points, making sure that the receiver understands. Making this choice wisely can reduce misunderstandings and ensure your message is received as you intended.

Keep the message clear

Who are you writing or talking to? What is your intended audience? Knowing this core motivator will help you keep your message as clear as possible. And before you hit that ‘enter’ button,  reread your written communication back out loud. In verbal communication, take pauses in conversation to make sure your sentences are clear and concise. Avoid jargon or complex sentences, as these can muddle up your message and cause confusion. The simpler and more direct your message, the better.

Maintain neutral body language

Our non-verbal cues are generally subconscious, yet they can speak much louder than words. Before you strike up a conversation, make note of your body language, facial expressions and eye contact. From there, adjust your gestures to suit the conversation. 

Heading into a job interview ? Pull your shoulders back and smile. If you’re hosting a presentation, then you may want to use hand gestures to show enthusiasm and passion. Again, it’s about knowing your audience and being aware of the barriers that might arise. 

Practise active listening

When it comes to effective communication, listening is just as important as speaking. When it’s not your turn to talk, practise active listening . More than simply waiting for your turn to talk, active listening involves fully concentrating, understanding, and responding to the other person - both non-verbally and through spoken response. This not only shows that you respect what the other person is saying, but also helps you better understand their message.

Use empathy to understand the other person

Empathy is an essential interpersonal skill . It helps us tap into the needs of others, without having to ask them what’s going on. This is why empathy is an important aspect of effective communication. 

Being able to understand the emotional context in which a message is delivered can help you navigate any emotional and psychological barriers that might arise. This involves understanding the feelings and viewpoints of others and taking them into account, and not getting defensive if they don’t see things your way.

Clarify anything you don’t understand

Lastly, make sure to clarify any points that may seem unclear to you. There’s no such thing as a stupid question, so don’t worry about being judged for asking. It’s actually a sign of confidence and respect in both yourself and the other person to seek clarification. 

Asking the question ensures you both understand what's being communicated, reducing the chances of confusion and giving the other person a chance to rectify if there has been a misunderstanding. By implementing these strategies, you can successfully navigate around communication constraints and barriers, making sure you enjoy open communication in every situation.

Communication barriers in specific contexts

While we've got a good understanding of the different roadblocks that can arise, it's important to note these barriers can appear differently, depending on the context. Each setting, whether it’s the workplace, intercultural interactions, family dynamics, or education, presents its own unique challenges. Here are some examples in different settings. 

In the workplace 

These barriers can often arise from management structures, where employees might hesitate to share constructive feedback  with their superiors. Other things can also influence this, such as how the workplace is organised, and the flow of communication from top to bottom (and bottom-up). 

Communication constraints in the workplace can look like:

• Unclear instructions or expectations
• Tension or conflict among teams and co-workers
• Industry-specific jargon that may not translate to newer workers 
• Language barriers - especially in a global workplace

Barriers between people from other cultures

As its name suggests, intercultural barriers can occur when interacting with people from different cultural backgrounds, where even a simple gesture can be misinterpreted. 

While in a professional setting, you might have the benefit of preparing for these barriers ahead of time, in a social context these barriers often aren’t picked up until it’s too late. 

Some intercultural communication barriers examples include: 

• Words that have different meanings and connotations
• Different body gestures that have different meanings 
• Different cultural practices that don’t translate

Barriers in family communication

Family communication barriers often stem from emotional baggage or generational gaps that can make daily conversation difficult. Every family shares a different relationship that will affect the way communication is delivered and received. Emotions always play a bigger role in these settings, making them more difficult to navigate. Examples in family relationships can look like: 

• Not feeling comfortable in sharing their real thoughts and feelings 
• A lack of knowledge or understanding of another's point of view
• Physical barriers like distance 
• Technological barriers like a lack of knowledge on how to use instant messaging or even time zone differences

Education and knowledge barriers

There are certain settings that mean a gap in knowledge can cause more issues than a task simply being incomplete. In healthcare settings, the use of medical jargon can create barriers between healthcare providers and patients, leading to potential misunderstandings that could have serious consequences. 

Similarly, in educational environments, communication constraints can arise from different learning styles or linguistic backgrounds, making it challenging for educators to effectively reach every student. Examples can look like: 

• A misunderstanding of the correct process for patient care 
• Doctors and medical staff having different names for processes depending on the medical setting
• In classrooms, a student may not understand task instructions

It’s important to be aware of context with each and every interaction. The ability to pinpoint barriers ahead of time, or recognise them in the moment, allows you to effectively clear any confusion and ensure the right message is both delivered and received.

The impact of technology on communication barriers

In our increasingly digital world, technology plays a very important role when it comes to communication. Video conferencing has made it easier to connect with people across the globe, effectively breaking down geographical barriers. At the same time, translation software can help overcome language obstacles, providing a bridge for clearer understanding. 

However, it's worth noting that despite its benefits, technology can also introduce new communication constraints. While video conferencing is a great tool, we lose non-verbal cues like eye contact and body language through the screen. There's also the issue of digital divide, where lack of access to technology can also become a barrier, particularly in educational and healthcare settings.

Bridging the technological gap 

One way to bridge this gap is by balancing technology with face-to-face communication. While technology offers convenience and breaks down many traditional barriers, it can’t entirely replace face-to-face interactions. In-person communication allows for a better exchange of ideas and is often more effective in resolving conflicts or misunderstandings. 

Knowing when to use technology and when to opt for a more personal interaction is key in recognising barriers of communication and how to overcome them.

The impact of technology on communication is complex, offering both solutions and new challenges. Being mindful of its advantages and limitations can help us navigate this area more effectively.

Communication barriers are diverse, each playing their own role in how we communicate effectively. From the verbal and non-verbal to the written, across personal relationships and professional settings, effective communication is key. Failing to address these barriers can lead to misunderstandings, missed opportunities, and even conflicts.

So now you have the fundamental ideas, you can take proactive steps to improve your communication skills. Whether it's by being more mindful of your non-verbal cues, choosing the appropriate communication channels, or even simply being an active listener, small changes can make a significant impact. 

What are the most common communication barriers?

The most common barriers include verbal barriers like language differences and the use of jargon, non-verbal barriers such as body language and facial expressions, and written barriers like poor grammar. Emotional and psychological states, as well as cultural and physical factors, can also act as significant barriers to effective communication.

How can communication barriers be overcome in the workplace?

Overcoming barriers in the workplace may involve a few approaches. Open channels of communication, regular team meetings, and feedback sessions can help in breaking down hierarchical barriers. Also, choosing the right communication channels for different types of messages can help reduce misunderstandings.

What are the best strategies for overcoming language barriers in communication?

The best strategies for overcoming language barriers include learning basic phrases or greetings in the other person's language, using translation tools, and choosing for simpler words and sentences. Visual aids like diagrams, charts and even hand gestures can also help in conveying complex ideas. Using an interpreter is the best option for more complex discussions.

How can emotional barriers be addressed in communication?

Addressing emotional barriers involves practising empathy and active listening. Being aware of your own emotional state and that of the other person can help in navigating emotional barriers. Open and honest communication about how emotions are affecting the conversation can also be beneficial.

How do communication barriers affect personal relationships?

They can have a big impact on personal relationships. Misunderstandings can lead to conflicts, while emotional barriers can create distance. However, overcoming these barriers through open communication, empathy, and active listening can lead to stronger relationships.

What role does active listening play in overcoming communication barriers?

Active listening is important as it involves fully concentrating, understanding, and responding to the other person. This not only shows that you respect what the other person is saying, but also helps you understand their message more accurately.

How does technology impact communication barriers in today's society?

Technology has the potential to break down traditional barriers, like distance and language, through tools such as video conferencing and translation software. However, it can also introduce new barriers. These include the digital divide and the potential for misunderstandings due to the absence of non-verbal cues in digital communication.

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Effective Communication: Barriers and Strategies

Some basic skills can help you to be a more effective communicator in the classroom. This Teaching Tip explores barriers and strategies for active listening, accurate perception, and effective verbal communication.

Barriers to active listening

• Focusing on a personal agenda.  When we spend our listening time formulating our next response, we cannot be fully attentive to what the speaker is saying.
• Experiencing information overload.  Too much stimulation or information can make it very difficult to listen with full attention. Try to focus on the relevant information, and the central points that are being conveyed.
• Criticizing the speaker.  Do not be distracted by critical evaluations of the speaker. Focus on what they are saying - the message - rather than the messenger.
• Being distracted by strong emotional responses.  When you have strong emotional response, acknowledge the emotion and shift your focus back to listening. Make a conscious effort not to get lost in your emotional response.  
• Getting distracted by external “noise”.  Audible noise may be extremely distracting. Some things can be minimized – e.g., turn down the ringer on your phone, and notifications on your phone or computer while meeting with someone. Other noises may be unavoidable – e.g., construction, other people. Also, there may be figurative “noise” from the external environment, such as distracting or inappropriate decor in a room, or environmental conditions such as the room being too hot or cold.
• Experiencing physical illness or pain.  Feeling physically unwell, or experiencing pain can make it very difficult to listen effectively. You may wish to communicate that this is not a good time, and reschedule the discussion. 

Strategies for active listening

The following strategies are intended to promote active listening, or a type of listening with the goal to “develop a clear understanding of the speaker’s concern and also to clearly communicate the listener’s interest in the speaker’s message” (McNaughton, Hamlin, McCarthy, Head-Reeves, & Schreiner, 2008, p. 224).

• Stop.  Focus on the other person, their thoughts and feelings. Consciously focus on quieting your own internal commentary, and step away from your own concerns to think about those of the speaker. Give your full attention to the speaker.
• Look.  Pay attention to non-verbal messages, without letting yourself be distracted. Notice body language and non-verbal cues to allow for a richer understanding of the speaker’s point. Remember that “active listeners need to communicate to the speaker that they are involved and giving the person unconditional attention” (Weger, Castle, & Emmett, 2010, p. 35).
• Listen.  Listen for the essence of the speaker’s thoughts: details, major ideas and their meanings. Seek an overall understanding of what the speaker is trying to communicate, rather than reacting to the individual words or terms that they use to express themselves.
• Be empathetic.  Imagine how you would feel in their circumstances. Be empathetic to the feelings of the speaker, while maintaining a calm centre within yourself. You need not be drawn into all of their problems or issues, as long as you acknowledge what they are experiencing.
• Ask questions.  Use questions to clarify your understanding, as well as to demonstrate interest in what is being said.
• Paraphrase.  If you don’t have any specific questions to ask, you may choose to repeat back to the speaker, in your own words, what you have taken away, in order to allow the speaker to clarify any points (Weger et al., 2010).

Barriers to accurate perception

• Stereotyping and generalizing.  Be careful not to hold on to preconceptions about people or things. We often have a tendency to see what we want to see, forming an impression from a small amount of information or one experience, and assuming that to be highly representative of the whole person or situation.
• Not investing time.  Making assumptions and ignoring details or circumstances can lead to misconceptions. When we fail to look in-depth for causes or circumstances, we miss important details, and do not allow for the complexity of the situation.
• Negativity bias.  Focusing on the negative aspects of a conversation or a situation is a habit common to many people. Even though we may recognize the positive things, we often give more weight to the negative, allowing one negative comment to overshadow numerous positive ones.
• Assuming similar interpretations.  Not everyone will draw the same conclusions from a given situation or set of information. Everybody interprets things differently. Make sure to check for other people’s interpretations, and be explicit about your own.
• Experiencing incongruent cues.  As speakers, and as listeners, we are constantly and simultaneously sending cues and receiving them from other people. Try to be consistent with your verbal cues and your body language. Do not say one thing and express something else through your body language. Be aware of how your non-verbal communication relates to your spoken words. If someone else seems to be sending a double message — by saying one thing and expressing something else in their body language — ask for clarification.

Strategies for accurate perception

• Analyze your own perceptions.  Question your perceptions, and think about how they are formed. Check in with others around you regularly, and be aware of assumptions that you are making. Seek additional information and observations. You may just need to ask people if your perceptions are accurate.
• Work on improving your perception.  Increase your awareness of barriers to perception, and which ones you tend towards. Check in with yourself regularly. Seek honest, constructive feedback from others regarding their perceptions of you as a means of increasing your self­awareness.
• Focus on others.  Develop your ability to focus on other people, and understand them better by trying to gather knowledge about them, listening to them actively, and imagining how you would feel in their situation.

Verbal Communication

Barriers to effective verbal communication.

• Lacking clarity.  Avoid abstract, overly-formal language, colloquialisms, and jargon, which obscure your message more than they serve to impress people.
• Using stereotypes and generalizations . Speakers who make unqualified generalizations undermine their own clarity and credibility. Be careful not to get stuck in the habit of using stereotypes, or making generalizations about complex systems or situations. Another form of generalization is “polarization” or creating extremes. Try to be sensitive to the complexities of situations, rather than viewing the world in black and white.
• Jumping to conclusions.  Confusing facts with inferences is a common tendency. Do not assume you know the reasons behind events, or that certain facts necessarily have certain implications. Make sure you have all the information you can get, and then speak clearly about the facts versus the meanings or interpretations you attach to those.
• Dysfunctional responses.  Ignoring or not responding to a comment or question quickly undermines effective communication. Likewise, responding with an irrelevant comment -- one that isn't connected to the topic at hand -- will quash genuine communication. Interrupting others while they are speaking also creates a poor environment for communication.
• Lacking confidence.  Lacking confidence can be a major barrier to effective communication. Shyness, difficulty being assertive, or low self-worth can hinder your ability to make your needs and opinions known. Also, a lack of awareness of your own rights and opportunities in a given situation can prevent you from expressing your needs openly. 

Strategies for effective verbal communication

• Focus on the issue, not the person.  Try not to take everything personally, and similarly, express your own needs and opinions in terms of the job at hand. Solve problems rather than attempt to control others. For example, rather than ignoring a student who routinely answers questions in class with inappropriate tangents, speak with the student outside of class about how this might disrupt the class and distract other students.
• Be genuine.  Be yourself, honestly and openly. Be honest with yourself, and focus on working well with the people around you, and acting with integrity.
• Empathize rather than remain detached.  Although professional relationships entail some boundaries when it comes to interaction with colleagues, it is important to demonstrate sensitivity, and to really care about the people you work with. If you don’t care about them, it will be difficult for them to care about you when it comes to working together.
• Be flexible towards others.  Allow for other points of view, and be open to other ways of doing things. Diversity brings creativity and innovation.
• Value yourself and your own experiences.  Be firm about your own rights and needs. Undervaluing yourself encourages others to undervalue you, too. Offer your ideas and expect to be treated well.
• Use affirming responses.  Respond to other in ways that acknowledge their experiences. Thank them for their input. Affirm their right to their feelings, even if you disagree. Ask questions, express positive feeling; and provide positive feedback when you can.

If you would like support applying these tips to your own teaching, CTE staff members are here to help.  View the  CTE Support  page to find the most relevant staff member to contact. 

McNaughton, D., Hamlin, D., McCarthy, J., Head-Reeves, D., & Schreiner, M. (2008). Learning to listen: Teaching an active listening strategy to preservice education professionals.  Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 27 , 223-231.

Weger, H., Jr., Castle, G. R., & Emmett, M. C. (2010). Active listening in peer interviews: The influence of message paraphrasing on perceptions of listening skill.  International Journal of Listening, 24 , 34-49.

CTE teaching tips

• Question Strategies
• Facilitating Effective Discussions
• When Things Go Wrong

Other CTE resources

Consider participating in the  CTE’s Instructional Skills Workshop , an intensive, collaborative learning model that uses videotaped micro-teaching and peer feedback sessions to support participants' teaching reflection and growth.  

Other resources

• Beebe et al. Interpersonal Communication: Relating to Others 2nd Canadian Edition. (Scarborough, Ontario: Allyn and Bacon, 2000). 
• Gordon, T. (2003).  Teacher Effectiveness Training . First Revised Edition. New York: Three Rivers Press.
• Wood, J. T. (2015).  Interpersonal communication: Everyday encounters . Nelson Education.

This Creative Commons license  lets others remix, tweak, and build upon our work non-commercially, as long as they credit us and indicate if changes were made. Use this citation format:  Effective Communication: Barriers and Strategies. Centre for Teaching Excellence, University of Waterloo

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Module 14: Communication

Introduction to barriers to effective communication, what you’ll learn to do: explain barriers to effective communication.

Barriers to communication are things that get in the way of a message being received. They could be physical, such as loud music playing, or emotional, such as when a person is too angry or fearful to listen to what another individual is saying. Culture, language, and social status can also represent barriers to effective communication. Managers need to be aware of barriers and how to overcome them to improve the communication process.

• Introduction to Barriers to Effective Communication. Authored by : John/Lynn Bruton and Lumen Learning. License : CC BY: Attribution

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• Barriers in Communication

Barriers of Communication: This far we have seen what we mean by the process of communication . But, at times even after taking care of every other detail some misunderstandings arise. So, to eliminate these misunderstandings, we have to understand the most common barriers to effective communication . Let us see what these Barriers of Communication are!

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Barriers To Effective Communication

The process of communication has multiple barriers. The intended communique will often be disturbed and distorted leading to a condition of misunderstanding and failure of communication. The Barriers to effective communication could be of many types like linguistic, psychological, emotional, physical, and cultural etc. We will see all of these types in detail below.

• Linguistic Barriers

The language barrier is one of the main barriers that limit effective communication. Language is the most commonly employed tool of communication. The fact that each major region has its own language is one of the Barriers to effective communication. Sometimes even a thick dialect may render the communication ineffective.

As per some estimates, the dialects of every two regions changes within a few kilometers. Even in the same workplace, different employees will have different linguistic skills. As a result, the communication channels that span across the organization would be affected by this.

Thus keeping this barrier in mind, different considerations have to be made for different employees. Some of them are very proficient in a certain language and others will be ok with these languages.

Browse more Topics under Communication

• Types of Communication
• Network in Communication
• Characteristics of Effective Communication
• Interpersonal Skills, Listening Skills and Emotional Intelligence

Learn more abou t the Characteristics of Effective Communication here in detail .

• Psychological Barriers

There are various mental and psychological issues that may be barriers to effective communication. Some people have stage fear, speech disorders, phobia, depression etc. All of these conditions are very difficult to manage sometimes and will most certainly limit the ease of communication.

• Emotional Barriers

The emotional IQ of a person determines the ease and comfort with which they can communicate. A person who is emotionally mature will be able to communicate effectively. On the other hand, people who let their emotions take over will face certain difficulties.

A perfect mixture of emotions and facts is necessary for effective communication. Emotions like anger, frustration, humour, can blur the decision-making capacities of a person and thus limit the effectiveness of their communication.

Physical Barriers to Communication

They are the most obvious barriers to effective communication. These barriers are mostly easily removable in principle at least. They include barriers like noise, closed doors, faulty equipment used for communication, closed cabins, etc. Sometimes, in a large office, the physical separation between various employees combined with faulty equipment may result in severe barriers to effective communication.

Learn more about Interpersonal Skills and Emotional Intelligence here in detail.

Cultural Barriers of Communication

As the world is getting more and more globalized, any large office may have people from several parts of the world. Different cultures have a different meaning for several basic values of society. Dressing, Religions or lack of them, food, drinks, pets, and the general behaviour will change drastically from one culture to another.

Hence it is a must that we must take these different cultures into account while communication. This is what we call being culturally appropriate. In many multinational companies, special courses are offered at the orientation stages that let people know about other cultures and how to be courteous and tolerant of others.

• Organisational Structure Barriers

As we saw there are many methods of communication at an organizational level. Each of these methods has its own problems and constraints that may become barriers to effective communication. Most of these barriers arise because of misinformation or lack of appropriate transparency available to the employees.

• Attitude Barriers

Certain people like to be left alone. They are the introverts or just people who are not very social. Others like to be social or sometimes extra clingy! Both these cases could become a barrier to communication. Some people have attitude issues, like huge ego and inconsiderate behaviours.

These employees can cause severe strains in the communication channels that they are present in. Certain personality traits like shyness, anger, social anxiety may be removable through courses and proper training. However, problems like egocentric behaviour and selfishness may not be correctable.

• Perception Barriers

Different people perceive the same things differently. This is a fact which we must consider during the communication process . Knowledge of the perception levels of the audience is crucial to effective communication. All the messages or communique must be easy and clear. There shouldn’t be any room for a diversified interpretational set.

• Physiological Barriers

Certain disorders or diseases or other limitations could also prevent effective communication between the various channels of an organization. The shrillness of voice, dyslexia , etc are some examples of physiological barriers to effective communication. However, these are not crucial because they can easily be compensated and removed.

Technological  Barriers & Socio-religious Barriers

Other barriers include the technological barriers. The technology is developing fast and as a result, it becomes difficult to keep up with the newest developments. Hence sometimes the technological advance may become a barrier. In addition to this, the cost of technology is sometimes very high.

Most of the organizations will not be able to afford a decent tech for the purpose of communication. Hence, this becomes a very crucial barrier. Other barriers are socio-religious barriers. In a patriarchal society, a woman or a transgender may face many difficulties and barriers while communicating.

Solved Examples on Barriers of Communication

Q1: What do you mean by a barrier to communication? List all the important Barriers to effective communication?

Answer: Any parameter that limits the purpose or channel of communication between the transmitter and the receiver is a barrier to communication. A communication barrier may limit or reduce the ease at which we communicate and hence the name barrier. Although the barriers to effective communication may be different for different situations, the following are some of the main barriers:

• Physical Barriers
• Cultural Barriers
• Technological barriers
• Socio-religious barriers

This concludes our discussion on the topic – barriers of communication.

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Communication Process: Definition, Steps, and Importance

At first glance, the communication process seems simple enough, right?

You say a few words to the interlocutor, they understand what you mean and give you a prompt response. 

But, that’s not always the way things go. Say that a joke you make falls flat, and you have to think of ways to redirect the conversation. Or, you use the word “ bike ” to talk of your love of cycling, but the interlocutor thought of motorbikes. 

These issues occur because the communication process is ever-changing and depends on 8 interconnected factors .

In the following sections, we’ll devote more attention to the importance of the communication process and each of its factors. 

We’ll also hear from experts who’ll share some of their tried-and-true tips on improving the communication process and eliminating miscommunication . 

Without further delay, let’s jump in. 

Table of Contents

What is the communication process?

The communication process encompasses a sequence of acts necessary for effective communication . These acts ensure the successful transmission of meaning between at least 2 participants, helping them to understand each other without issues. 

However, while the communication process is a comprehensive and reliable tool that can help achieve successful communication between two or more people, it sometimes isn’t as straightforward as it first appears. 

In reality, effective communication requires careful attention to the 8 interconnected factors that make up the process . When properly followed, the communication process can ensure the intended message is conveyed and understood without misinterpretation or confusion. 

But, this requires a deep understanding of the process and active participation. 

What are the parts of the communication process?

In the book The Process of Communication: An Introduction to Theory and Practice , American communication theorist David K. Berlo writes: 

“ With the concept of process established in our minds, we can profit from an analysis of the ingredients of communication, the elements that seem necessary (if not sufficient) for communication to occur. ”  – David K. Berlo

When Berlo mentions the “ concept of process ,” he references the fact that communication, like other processes, is dynamic and ever-evolving . 

Take the conversations you have with your coworkers as an example. The topic changes depending on whom you’re speaking to, as does your tone of voice and body language . 

But, some ingredients remain the same with each interaction — the 8 elements of the communication process. These are:

• Environment,
• Context, and
• Interference.

We’ll now examine these factors in greater detail. 

Element #1: Source (Sender)

In the process of communication, the source or sender is the person who speaks in order to create and impart a specific message to their audience . 

The source may convey their message using verbal language but also through their:

• Body language, 
• Clothing, and
• Tone of voice. 

According to Berlo, communication is virtually impossible without a source :

“ We can say that all human communication has some source , some person or group of persons with a purpose, a reason for engaging in communication. ” – David K. Berlo

Before speaking or writing, the source has to decide what they want to convey and how they wish to format their message. 

Then, the source encodes this information using words and putting them in specific order to achieve the desired meaning. Only after taking these steps can a source deliver the message to the audience. 

Element #2: Message

The message is the source’s purpose of communication , and during the communication process, the source converts this purpose into speech or text. 

In The Basics of Speech Communication , Scott McLean describes the message as “ the stimulus or meaning produced by the source for the receiver or audience .” 

McLean also emphasizes that the message is more than words strung together by order and grammatical rules . How we format and transmit our message depends on the type of communication we intend to engage in.

For instance, in written communication, you can change and reshape a message through:

• The use of emojis ,
• The addition of subheadings,
• Adjustments in writing style, and 
• Formatting the message . 

And, as we’ve mentioned, your appearance and body language during in-person meetings or video conferencing calls can also affect how you communicate your message. 

But, there’s more to it. 

Our environment and the context we provide can imbue the message with additional meaning. On the other hand, noise can obscure our intended meaning during the interaction and become a communication barrier .  

Element #3: Channel

The channel is the manner by which the message travels from the source to the receiver . 

In his examination of communication models , Berlo touches on channels, stating that:

“ A channel is a medium, a carrier of messages. It is correct to say that messages can exist only in some channels; however, the choice of channels often is an important factor in the effectiveness of communication. ” – David K. Berlo

If you think of the streaming services you’re subscribed to as separate channels, they all combine visual and auditory information to communicate a specific message. When you look away from the screen, you can still hear the program and gather enough clues to understand what’s going on. 

The same goes if you lower the volume. Thanks to subtitles and visual cues, you’ll still be able to follow the plot without much trouble.

A similar scenario happens in real-time communication . Depending on our purpose and needs, we can choose from several different channels, which could include:

• Voice and video calls,
• Direct messaging in a business communication app ,
• Voice messages , and
• Emails. 

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For a deeper look into communication channels and information about which channels are suitable for different kinds of communication, see this guide:

• Channels of communication

Element #4: Receiver

As the name suggests, the receiver is the person whose task is to receive the source’s message . 

The receiver is just as important as the source in the communication process because their actions can make or break the interaction.

No matter how carefully you choose your words, the communication situation may go awry, as you have no control over how the interlocutor:

• Interprets the message , 
• Behaves after hearing the message , or
• Uses their cultural experience and knowledge to participate in communication. 

The above points determine whether the receiver will choose to provide feedback to the source and actively participate in the communication action . No further communication can occur if the receiver decides not to respond and withholds feedback. 

Keep in mind that a receiver may not always respond using verbal messages. 

For example, if you are speaking at a business summit attended by more than 200 people, you’ll feel the audience sizing you up. Although the attendees won’t voice their opinion on what you’re saying, you can modify your performance and add more information to your message by watching the reaction of audience members. 

Element #5: Feedback

Feedback is the response the receiver returns to the source. 

• Unintentional or intentional and
• Nonverbal or verbal . 

Feedback is vital in letting the source know how the receiver has interpreted the message . 

Another important function of feedback in communication is to give the receiver the chance to:

• Request additional information or clarification,
• Support or object to the source’s claims, and
• Inform the source how to modify their approach. 

The role feedback plays in the communication process cannot be overstated. 

In the research article Some effects of feedback on communication , Mueller and Leavitt detailed the result of an experiment that dealt with how different levels of feedback affected communication. Their conclusion was that: 

“ Increasing feedback resulted in increasing [communication] accuracy . ” – Mueller and Leavitt

Feedback is instrumental in professional communication, and so is feedforward. To learn more about how the two concepts are related and how to use them to your advantage, read this blog post:

• Feedback vs. feedforward: Moving from feedback to feedforward

Element #6: Environment

The environment refers to the mental and physical contexts in which we communicate , both as the sender and the receiver of messages. It encompasses the setting, atmosphere, and conditions that may influence the interpretation and reception of information .

For example, if you’re in a conference room, your environment might include:

• Windows, and
• A whiteboard. 

Psychological aspects of the environment may include whether the topic is discussed in a transparent manner and whether the communication is formal or informal. 

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Element #7: Context

While some confuse context for the environment when talking about the communication process, context refers to the:

• Setting, and
• Expectations of the conversation participants. 

For example, when you head into the office, you expect those present to be smartly dressed and speak and act in a specific way. Thus, anyone wearing a T-shirt and shorts would stick out like a sore thumb. 

That’s because context dictates how formal or informal the environment should be. 

During work meetings, someone’s position and expertise affect when and how they will speak, as well as what they will speak about. During short breaks, everyone is free to quickly catch up or talk about informal topics. But, when the meeting resumes, all off-topic conversations cease. 

As a crucial element of the communication cycle, context is also vital in cross-cultural communication. Namely, the cultural context we inherit and learn through experience affects how we convey messages. For more information on cross-cultural communication and cultural context, check out this detailed blog post:

• How to perfect cross-cultural communication at the workplace

Element #8: Interference (Noise)

The final component of the communication process, interference , is also sometimes called noise . 

Interference or noise can be anything that distorts or modifies the intended meaning of a message . 

If your desk is by the window, you likely see billboards and commuters and hear traffic sounds. This noise can halt your stream of thought or interrupt a conversation with coworkers. 

However, in the communication cycle, the noise could also be psychological .

Although you work in a quiet environment, your own thoughts could block you from fully listening to what someone is saying. For instance, if your superior hasn’t finished talking to you, but you are already coming up with what to say in return, chances are you’ve missed a few points. 

Similarly, if you forgot to drink water before joining a meeting, you may pay more attention to the water cooler than the presentations. 

Unfortunately, the modern workforce is rife with distractions that act as communication hurdles. The occasional pinging from your team messaging app may prevent you from giving your all to the task at hand. If you’ve struggled with this in the past, take a look at this helpful post:

• How to ensure business chat is not distracting your team

How does the communication process work?

The communication process consists of 5 essential steps . They are:

• Idea formation,
• Message encoding,
• Message transmission,
• Message decoding , and 

Breaking down these communication cycle phases will help you better understand your role in conversation and improve your communication skills.  

Step #1: The source or sender has an idea (Idea formation)

Communication begins with the source, the person who thinks of and sends the message. 

Several things can influence the message a source wants to convey, including their:

• Background , and
• Context of the communication situation . 

For example, how you greet a coworker depends on: 

• Your mood, 
• Their position within the company, 
• Your own culture, and 
• Your knowledge of your coworker’s culture. 

Consequently, before saying or writing anything, you have to consider the above factors to prevent misinterpretation and confusion. 

Moreover, a source should always think about how the receiver or audience will respond to the message. One of the most invaluable skills an effective communicator can hone is the ability to adapt their message so that it elicits a positive response from the interlocutor. 

Step #2: The source encodes the idea in a message (Encoding)

Encoding is the second step in the process of communication. This phase consists of transforming an idea into gestures and words that will successfully carry its meaning to the receiver . 

However, encoding can be a challenging task as different people associate different meanings with the same words. 

According to Guffey and Loewy in Business Communication: Process & Product , miscommunication that stems from mismatched meanings is called bypassing , and it is one of the most common pitfalls of professional communication. 

To avoid these complications, skilled communicators should strive to use familiar words because the goal is to have the source and receiver agree on their meanings . 

As one HBR article on language and culture states, just because you and your coworkers share a language doesn’t mean you share the same business culture , too. 

Let’s see how language and culture can clash in the example below. 

Jodie has sent a message to Anna, the new administration officer who has moved to the US from the UK. Jodie starts with casual chit chat before diving into the point of her message. 

While that is considered polite behavior in the US, it can grate on people from countries where it is customary to get to the point without veering off-topic. Furthermore, Jodie uses the terms “ trainer ” and “ cell phone .” While these don’t throw Anna off, in the UK, it’s common to hear “ coach ” or “ instructor ” and “ mobile phone. ” 

Finally, Anna’s response is brief and doesn’t venture into non-work-related territory. 

Step #3: The message is transmitted via a communication channel (Transmission)

During the communication cycle, it is necessary to find the best way to physically transmit the message to the receiver. The transmission medium is the channel , and we can share messages via:

• Business communication apps ,
• Announcements,
• Phone calls,
• Pictures, and
• Memorandums. 

Deciding on the most effective channel is imperative because it can affect how a receiver interprets both verbal and nonverbal messages . 

For instance, in the example below, Jodie is sharing the annual performance report with her colleagues. How they receive the message will depend on:

• The tone present throughout the report,
• The document’s layout, and
• The inclusion of graphics and charts. 

Of course, before picking the most effective channel, the source must consider the noise and how it could interfere with the communication process. 

As we’ve discussed, anything that obstructs the communication cycle is considered noise. 

These interferences may take many forms, from misspellings in business emails to poor connection during a virtual call . However, choosing an unsuitable time to send an email or scheduling a team meeting for a simple update can also be an interference. 

Step #4: The receiver decodes the message (Decoding)

An essential phase of the communication cycle — decoding — occurs when the receiver analyzes the message and converts its symbols to uncover the intended meaning . 

Successful communication can only happen when the receiver cracks this code — that is, when they comprehend what the source intended to say . 

But, achieving effective communication is easier said than done because no two people share the same experiences and knowledge. Moreover, numerous communication barriers can get in the way of decoding and halt the entire process. 

Some factors that undermine decoding messages can be internal , and these include:

• A lack of attention when someone is speaking and
• Pre-existing cognitive biases and prejudice towards the source. 

External factors can also impede the communication process. For example, it might be hard to decipher someone’s words in a loud environment, and misunderstandings are bound to happen. 

However, semantic hurdles can cause severe communication issues in a professional setting. For example, let’s analyze the announcement below. 

Joseph has posted what he thinks is an exciting announcement about an upcoming company event. While his intentions may have come from the right place, his words have definitely missed the mark. 

His choice to refer to new hires as “ newbies ,” the female employees as “ girls ,” and seasoned employees as “ oldtimers ” has the potential to offend part of the workforce. 

Thus, these word choices could lead to strong reactions that prevent the employees from focusing on the overall message. 

Step #5: Feedback reaches the source

Feedback is the backbone of communication and covers the interlocutor’s nonverbal and verbal responses. These signals let the source know how someone has received and understood the message .

For example, when a coworker asks, “ How’s your day going? ” you can respond with, “ Good, thanks. And yours? ”. 

Or, if you’ve had a particularly draining day, you might smile and shrug your shoulders. 

The same goes for using team communication apps . You can:

• Send a message, 
• Post a comment, or 
• Use an emoji to show how you feel. 

Of course, different people share varying degrees of feedback, which is why it’s a good idea to encourage feedback with questions like:

• “ Is everything I’ve said clear? ” 
• “ Do you need clarification on anything I’ve mentioned? ” 

Remember that overwhelming the receiver with too much information may confuse them and thus lead to a lack of feedback. 

Think of your delivery, time it appropriately, and give the interlocutor enough time to organize their thoughts. 

Additionally, it’s essential to differentiate between 2 types of feedback:

• Evaluative feedback and
• Descriptive feedback . 

Evaluative feedback doesn’t reflect whether the receiver has understood the source. Instead, it is often judgemental and can push the source into defensiveness .

On the other hand, descriptive feedback results from the receiver understanding the intended meaning of the source’s message. 

For example, saying, “ I see how the numbers suggest we should focus more on inbound marketing in the next quarter, ” is better than stating, “ These numbers don’t look too good. ” 

The first response invites others to become active in the conversation, while the second acts as more of a deterrent. 

Do you want to become better at giving and requesting constructive feedback? If that’s the case, head to the blog posts below:

• How to give constructive feedback when working remotely
• How to ask your manager for feedback

Tips for improving the communication process

Now that we’re familiar with the elements and phases of the communication process, we can focus on learning how to ensure the best possible outcomes. 

Tip #1: Beware of bypassing

Business communication is complex, and unless you’re careful, bypassing could become a common occurrence. 

Bypassing is a phenomenon that happens when the source and receiver attach 2 wholly different meanings to a single word . 

For example, if you’ve just landed your first job after graduating from university, seeing “ meeting cadence ” mentioned in a message from your manager might confuse you. 

You may immediately think of the more well-known definition of the word “ cadence, ” which is the inflection of someone’s voice. But, your manager is referring to the frequency of team meetings, and it could take a while to straighten things out.

The good news is that business communication doesn’t have to be convoluted. You can prevent bypassing if you:

• Avoid using business jargon in the workplace ,
• Use simple and clear language , and
• Proofread your messages and emails to eliminate spelling errors and vague wording .

Tip #2: Strive to be a more attentive listener

Even when the source goes to great lengths to neatly package their message, their efforts will go to waste if the interlocutor is a poor listener. 

Fortunately, active listening is a skill, and you can learn how to leverage it to your advantage in business communication. 

In Communication in Business: Strategies and Skills , Judith Dwyer cites Gamble and Gamble (1996), who have identified 6 common behaviors most poor listeners exhibit . 

These disruptive behaviors are:

• Dart thrower : Questioning the speaker and the validity of their story as soon as they make a mistake, no matter how minor it is. 
• Ear hog : Dominating the communication situation by pushing your story and preventing others from telling their side. 
• Bee : Only listening to parts of the conversation that interest you the most and ignoring everything else. 
• Earmuff : Sidetracking the conversation to avoid confronting specific information. 
• Gap filler : Coming up with additional information to prove you’ve heard the whole story, although you only zeroed in on parts of it. 
• Nodder : Feigning listening by pretending to pay attention to the speaker. In reality, you are thinking about a different topic entirely.

Sometimes, we inadvertently engage in the above behaviors, so it’s essential to join every communication act without preconceived notions. 

According to Joanna Staniszewska , a seasoned marketing, communication and HR professional, communication is a two-way street, and active listening is one of the most effective strategies:

“ Actively listening to others fosters trust and understanding. Encourage individuals to pay attention, ask questions, and confirm their comprehension during conversations. ”

🎓 Pumble Pro Tip 

Do you want to learn more tips on becoming a present and attentive listener? If so, we have just the post for you:

• How to engage in deep listening in the workplace

Tip #3: Create an environment that encourages feedback

Establishing stable feedback loops positively impacts employee engagement , creating a safe space for people to self-advocate at work . 

A system that compels team members to speak up without reservations in manager-employee relationships is invaluable. It can act both as a channel for employee recognition and resolving conflicts before they snowball into large-scale issues. 

Staniszewska mentioned that a stable communication process should rely on sustainable feedback loops:

“ Emphasize the need for feedback mechanisms that allow individuals to assess their communication effectiveness continually. This can be formal, like surveys, or informal, like regular team check-ins .”

So, how do you create a positive feedback loop that reinforces the communication process?

You can start by:

• Leading with empathy: Emphasize to others you’re ready to hear them out without prejudice or judgment.
• Giving feedback in person: Face-to-face meetings or video calls often feel more authentic than messages and emails.
• Managing your emotions: Tap into your emotional intelligence and approach each situation with a clear mind.

Here’s how that may look.

When eliciting feedback, remember not to rush the interaction, states Dawid Wiacek , a communication and executive career coach:

“ In today’s business landscape, speed is often a competitive advantage, but when it comes to success in communication, one of the keys is actually slowing down. To ensure the other person has digested your message accurately, it’s helpful to ask them to summarize it in their own words. 

You can ask what resonated about the message and what didn’t; what they felt was the core element, and what was secondary; what was validating and perhaps surprising. The point here is you want to engage the recipient and make sure that the original message was translated appropriately and not lost in translation. ”

Tip #4: Think about where you (and others) come from 

Although it can be nerve-wracking, giving feedback to colleagues is part of virtually all jobs. 

Ideally, we deliver critiques in a constructive and empowering manner, but that’s not always how things pan out. That’s not to say we purposely try to offend our coworkers. The situation may simply be a result of cultural differences. 

Let’s take the below exchange as an example. 

Carol, who is from the US, sends her well wishes to Jamie, who has been working from Japan for the past 6 years. A minor misunderstanding arises because Carol assumed Jamie and she would interpret the meaning of an emoji in the same way. 

This type of blunder can be funny — Carol and Jamie were able to clear the air quickly and move on. 

But, what would happen in a more serious situation, such as a performance review?

For instance, moving a manager from Germany to take over a department in South Korea can become a disaster if no forethought goes into it. In Korean society and business, respect is determined through a mix of age, experience, and hierarchical position. 

Thus, if the German manager is older than part of his Korean staff, they will be less likely to push back against unwarranted criticism. Moreover, after receiving information from the manager, they could even return disingenuous feedback in an effort to save face. 

Fortunately, this doesn’t mean that all cross-cultural collaboration is doomed. 

When we spoke to Joanna Staniszewska, she highlighted the importance of cultural intelligence and sensitivity:

“ Communication takes place in diverse environments. Stress the importance of cultural awareness and sensitivity. Encourage individuals to adapt their communication styles to resonate with the audience’s cultural norms and expectations. ”

Tip #5: Read up on communication styles

Understanding your preferred communication style and tweaking it to align with your coworkers can make a difference in team collaboration and communication . 

When a colleague abruptly shuts down during the communication process, it might not be because of something you’ve intentionally said or done. Perhaps your personal communication style got in the way, and the person on the other end felt you were disregarding their ideas and opinions. Although you thought you were assertively standing up for your idea, your coworker may have felt like you were subtly attacking theirs.  

Changing how you communicate can point you toward professional success, and a good starting point is bolstering your emotional intelligence . Through a combination of social awareness and self-awareness, you’ll gradually gain more control over how you speak and act in the workplace. 

In the case that you need more guidance, another strategy would be enrolling in a professional development course that could help you become a more transparent and flexible communicator. 

When a communication break occurs, it isn’t always possible to salvage the communication process. However, with the proper education and a dash of commitment, you can learn how to facilitate productive and open conversations. 

For more extensive information on different communication styles, as well as becoming more flexible during business communication, check out this guide:

• Communication styles

Tip #6: Take into account the changing demographics of the workforce

Another unique issue in workplace communication is learning how to connect and collaborate with colleagues from different generations .

We all have specific habits and preferences, and the generational gap can sometimes put our behavior at odds with that of our older or younger coworkers. 

Navigating these differences and refraining from resorting to stereotypes is the way to go when creating a well-connected and inclusive environment. 

So, be honest about your preferred ways of communication and respect the boundaries of your team members. As soon as they notice these efforts, they’ll feel more at ease when asking for help or reaching out about a work task. 

Are you interested in learning more about enhancing communication across generations within your team or company? Then check out this exhaustive blog post:

• How to improve communication across generations at work

Why is the communication process important?

Through the way we communicate, we learn not only how to get ahead in life but also how to form stable relationships. 

If you think of life skills as a tower of cards, communication is near the bottom, laying a solid foundation. Should this card wobble slightly, it will jeopardize the stability of the entire tower. 

Moreover, by mastering the communication process, you :

• Readjust your self-perception and how you view the world around you ,
• Become a better learner , and
• Learn how to represent both your employer and yourself in the best light . 

In the following sections, we will devote more attention to exploring the above three points. 

Reason #1: The communication process affects how we view others and ourselves

The phrase “ at a loss for words ” aptly describes how it feels to come out of a communication situation unsuccessful.

Not only do you feel like you’re missing the right words, but it is as if you’re also missing a vital part of yourself. This unpleasant emotion sprouts because we share a part of our worldview with our interlocutor when communicating . We often inadvertently reveal the reasoning behind our train of thought and how we believe everything fits into this neatly organized snapshot of the world. 

And, you go through the same scenario when listening to friends or coworkers. You take in their appearance, facial expressions, and words to form an assumption about what their values and priorities may be. 

It’s not always feasible to pick the right words or rein in your facial expressions, but learning how the communication process works does help. 

For example, you’ll realize that what you say could reveal just as much about yourself as the topic you are discussing. Thus, rather than simply waiting for your turn to speak, you might make a conscious effort to actively listen and understand the other person’s perspective.

Reason #2: The communication process affects the way we learn

In Business Communication for Success , McLean reminds anyone willing to work on their communication skills that this endeavor will require:

• Persistence, and
• Self-correction.

McLean likens becoming a better communicator to sharpening other valuable life skills. There was a time when you didn’t drive a car or have a clue about digital literacy , yet, over time (and much trial and error), you’ve become a much more capable person. 

So, while results won’t come overnight, and you might get tangled up in a few difficult conversations at work , the effort is worth it. The key is to keep talking and listening. Soon enough, you may catch yourself broaching new subjects more assertively . 

Reason #3: The communication process helps us put our best foot forward

When you work in a team, how you communicate can paint a positive image of both you and your coworkers . When your communication style oozes professionalism and respectfulness, reaching agreements and negotiating deals becomes much less of a hassle. 

Not to mention that, paired with an excellent work ethic, strong communication is a huge plus when it comes to advancing to a leadership position. And, should you decide to change companies, sharp oral and written communication skills will significantly improve your employment prospects. 

If you make a misstep while joining a new team, good communication can help you iron out any lingering issues. But, to avoid these awkward situations altogether and learn how to make a good first impression, check out the below blog post:

• How to professionally introduce yourself

Leverage Pumble for enhanced communication processes

Whether you want to speak more candidly with family members or reach the next level in your career, knowing what the communication process is and why it matters can give you a head start. 

As we’ve explained, understanding the communication process serves as the foundation for success in various aspects of life and work. In this context, integrating tools like Pumble, a team communication app , becomes instrumental in optimizing communication channels and fostering meaningful connections .

With its intuitive interface and real-time messaging features, Pumble addresses common communication challenges such as information overload and siloed channels . By integrating it into your communication process, you can:

• Foster transparency , 
• Streamline workflows , and 
• Enhance team cohesion .

Eager to try it for yourself? Sign up for Pumble today!

References:

• Berlo, D. K. (1963). The process of communication: An introduction to theory and practice. Holt Rinehart and Winston. Retrieved September 2023 from https://archive.org/details/processofcommuni0000berl/mode/2up
• Christian, A. (2022, September 26). Why ‘digital literacy’ is now a workplace non-negotiable. BBC Worklife. https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220923-why-digital-literacy-is-now-a-workplace-non-negotiable-
• Dwyer, J. (2008). Communication in business: Strategies and skills (4th ed.). Pearson Education Australia. Retrieved September 2023 from https://archive.org/details/communicationinb0000dwye
• Guffey, M. E., & Loewy, D. (2011). Business communication: Process & product (7th ed.). South-Western.
• Leavitt, H. J., & Mueller, R. A. H. (1951). Some effects of feedback on communication. Human Relations, 4, 401–410. https://doi.org/10.1177/001872675100400406
• McLean, S. (2010). Business communication for success. Flat World Knowledge.
• McLean, S. A. (2003). The basics of speech communication. Allyn and Bacon. Retrieved September 2023 from https://archive.org/details/basicsofspeechco00mcle/mode/2up
• Molinsky, A. (2014, August 7). Common Language Doesn’t Equal Common Culture. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2013/04/common-language-doesnt-equal-c
• Panel, E. (2021, May 27). How To Encourage Candid Employee Feedback: 14 Tips For CEOs. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2021/05/27/how-to-encourage-candid-employee-feedback-14-tips-for-ceos/?sh=2805bfec2407

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49 Communication Activities, Exercises & Games

Read on to learn about how important communication is in a relationship and how you can work on improving your communication skills.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Positive Communication Exercises (PDF) for free . These science-based tools will help you and those you work with build better social skills and better connect with others.

This Article Contains:

What are communication activities, exercises, and games, the role of communication in a relationship, how can we develop better communication skills, 18 communication games and activities for adults, 17 exercises to help improve communication in a relationship, the importance of communication in the family unit, 14 family therapy activities for communication, a take-home message.

The resources in this piece include tips, techniques, exercises, games, and other activities that give you the opportunity to learn more about effective communication, help guide your interactions with others, and improve your communication skills.

Some might feel like a chore you need to cross off your to-do list while others may make you forget you’re not just having fun with your family , but actually boosting vital life skills; however, they all have one thing in common: they will help you become a better, more effective, and more positive communicator with those who mean the most to you.

But what’s the deal with these activities, exercises, and therapy games ? Are they really that important or impactful? Do we really need to work on communicating when it seems like we’re pretty good at it already?

Check out this quote from Stephen R. Covey and take a minute to think about how vital communication really is.

The most important ingredient we put into any relationship is not what we say or what we do, but what we are. And if our words and our actions come from superficial human relations techniques rather than from our own inner core, others will sense that duplicity. We simply won’t be able to create and sustain the foundation necessary for effective interdependence.

Stephen R. Covey

As Covey notes, communication is the foundation of all of our relationships , forming the basis of our interactions and feelings about one another.

According to Australia’s Better Health Channel, communication is “ the transfer of information from one place to another ” and within relationships, it “ allows you to explain to someone else what you are experiencing and what your needs are ” (Victoria Department of Health & Human Services, n.d.).

When communication is good, we feel good about our relationships. Dr. Susan Heitler (2010) puts it this way:

When people say, ‘We have a great relationship,’ what they often mean is how they feel when they talk with one another. They mean, ‘I feel positive toward that person when we interact. I send and I receive positive vibes with them.’

Besides making our relationships easier, there are also relationship-boosting benefits to good communication:

• Effective communication shows respect and value of the other person.
• It helps us to better understand each other; not all communication is about understanding—some are intended to fight, dismiss, invalidate, undermine, etc.—but it should be!
• It makes us feel more comfortable with each other and encourages even more healthy and effective communication (Abass, n.d.).

Download 3 Communication Exercises (PDF)

These detailed, science-based exercises will equip you or your clients with tools to improve communication skills and enjoy more positive social interactions with others.

Download 3 Free Communication Tools Pack (PDF)

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Fortunately, all it takes to develop better communication skills is a commitment to do so and a little bit of effort.

These tips from Australia’s Better Health Channel can help guide you toward better communication with your partner or spouse (these tips can also apply to any other relationship in your life with a little tweaking):

• Set aside time to talk without interruption from other people or distractions like phones, computers or television.
• Think about what you want to say.
• Be clear about what you want to communicate.
• Make your message clear, so that your partner hears it accurately and understands what you mean.
• Talk about what is happening and how it affects you.
• Talk about what you want, need and feel – use ‘I’ statements such as ‘I need’, ‘I want’ and ‘I feel’.
• Accept responsibility for your own feelings.
• Listen to your partner. Put aside your own thoughts for the time being and try to understand their intentions, feelings, needs and wants (this is called empathy ).
• Share positive feelings with your partner, such as what you appreciate and admire about them, and how important they are to you.
• Be aware of your tone of voice.
• Negotiate and remember that you don’t have to be right all the time. If the issue you are having is not that important, sometimes let the issue go, or agree to disagree (Victoria Department of Health & Human Services, n.d.).

If you’re experiencing high levels of conflict in your relationship(s), the Better Health Channel has some specific recommendations for you:

• Avoid using the silent treatment.
• Don’t jump to conclusions. Find out all the facts rather than guessing at motives.
• Discuss what actually happened. Don’t judge.
• Learn to understand each other, not to defeat each other.
• Talk using the future and present tense, not the past tense.
• Concentrate on the major problem, and don’t get distracted by other minor problems.
• Talk about the problems that hurt your or your partner’s feelings, then move on to problems about differences in opinions.
• Use ‘I feel’ statements, not ‘You are’ statements (Victoria Department of Health & Human Services, n.d.).

8 Tips on How to Teach Communication Skills

This useful framework comes from Alice Stott at Edutopia (2018):

• Physical: How a speaker uses their body language, facial expressions, and voice.
• Linguistic: The speaker’s use of language, including their understanding of formality and rhetorical devices.
• Cognitive: The content of what a speaker says and their ability to build on, challenge, question, and summarize others’ ideas.
• Social and emotional : How well a speaker listens, includes others, and responds to their audience (Stott, 2018).

Once you have a good framework for understanding communication, try these 8 ways to foster effective communication in your children or students:

• Teach your kids empathy so they can get a sense of what the other person is thinking and feeling.
• Teach your kids conversation skills with techniques like puppets and video modeling, which they can then apply in exercises and activities.
• Establish listening and speaking procedures in the classroom or at home (e.g., Dr. Allen Mendler’s SLANT strategy : Sit up straight, Listen, Answer and ask questions, Nod to show interest, Track the speaker; Mendler, 2013).
• Teach respectful vocabulary and remind students that being “cold” (passive) or “hot” (angry) will probably result in less understanding and more conflict.
• Teach the power of pausing (e.g., encourage them to pause, think, and ask questions like “What do you mean by that?” and “Why?”).
• Have your kids practice speaking and listening in natural settings (e.g., outside of the home and classroom).
• Encourage introspection in your children; it will help them understand themselves better as well as those around them.
• Practice taking turns with a talking stick or a ball, teaching your children that they can speak when they have the object but they are expected to listen when others are talking (Stanfield, 2017).

One of the most effective ways to avoid unnecessary disputes is to practice non-violent communication (NVC). According to Rosenberg (1999), non-violent communication methods can serve us in three ways:

• It can increase your ability to live with choice, meaning, and connection
• It helps connect empathically with yourself and others to have more satisfying relationships
• It shares resources so everyone is able to benefit

In an effort to exemplify the various forms that communication can take, we want to share some key differences between passive, assertive, and aggressive communication styles.

• Specifically, a passive communicator prioritizes the needs of others, even at their own expense. This often leads to being taken advantage of and having their own needs disregarded by others as well.
• An assertive communicator mirrors the values of NVC, which is what we should aim for. This communication style emphasizes the importance of all parties’ needs and is defined by confidence and the willingness to compromise
• Aggressive communication, also referred to as violent communication, disregards any other parties involved and consists of constant disrespect, interrupting, and domination.

Now that you are familiar with these types of communication styles, it’s time to analyze how you convey your thoughts to others (and if there is any room for improvement).

If you’re looking for some concrete ways to build communication skills in adults, you’ve come to the right place. Below are 18 games, activities, and exercises that you can use to help adults develop more effective listening and communication skills.

5 Communication Activities for Adults

To get started improving your (or your team’s, or your student’s) communication skills, give these 5 activities a try.

1. Card Pieces

This exercise from the team at MindTools is a good way to help participants develop more empathy, consider other perspectives, build their communication and negotiation skills.

First, make sure you have enough people for at least three teams of two, enough playing cards to give out between 4 and 6 cards to each person, and 15 minutes to spare.

Here’s how the activity works:

• Cut each playing card into half diagonally, then in half diagonally again, so you have four triangular pieces for each card.
• Mix all the pieces together and put equal numbers of cards into as many envelopes as you have teams.
• Divide people up into teams of three or four. You need at least three teams. If you’re short of people, teams of two will work just as well.
• Give each team an envelope of playing card pieces.
• Each team has three minutes to sort its pieces, determine which ones it needs to make complete cards, and develop a bargaining strategy.
• After three minutes, allow the teams to start bartering for pieces. People can barter on their own or collectively with their team. Give the teams eight minutes to barter.
• When the time is up, count each team’s completed cards. Whichever team has the most cards wins the round.

Afterward, you can use these questions to guide discussion on the exercise:

• Which negotiation strategies worked? Which didn’t?
• What could they have done better?
• What other skills, such as active listening or empathy, did they need to use?

2. Listen and Draw

This game is easy to play but not so easy to “win.” It requires participants’ full attention and active listening.

Gather your group of participants together and hand out a piece of paper and a pen or pencil to each player. Tell them you will give them verbal instructions on drawing an object, one step at a time.

For example, you might give them instructions like:

• Draw a square, measuring 5 inches on each side.
• Draw a circle within the square, such that it fits exactly in the middle of the square.
• Intersect 2 lines through the circle, dividing the circle into 4 equal parts.

As the exercise continues, it will get progressively harder; one misstep could mean that every following instruction is misinterpreted or misapplied. Participants will need to listen carefully to ensure their drawing comes out accurately. Once the instructions have all been read, compare drawings and decide who won.

For added engagement, decide in advance on what the finished product is supposed to represent (e.g., a spiderweb, a tree).

3. Communication Origami

This is a great exercise to help people understand that we all hear and interpret things differently, even if we are given the exact same information.

Here’s how it works:

• Give one sheet of standard-sized paper (8.5 x 11 inches) to each participant.
• Tell your participants that you will be giving them step-by-step instructions on how to fold their piece of paper into an origami shape.
• Inform your participants that they must keep their eyes and mouths closed as they follow instructions; they are not allowed to look at the paper or ask any clarifying questions.
• Give the group your instructions on how to fold the paper into the origami shape of your choice.
• Once the instructions have all been given, have everyone open their eyes and compare their shape with the intended shape.

You will likely find that each shape is a little bit different! To hit the point home, refer to these discussion points and questions:

• Make the point that each paper looks different even though you have given the same instructions to everybody. What does this mean?
• Ask the group if you think the results would have been better if they kept their eyes open or were allowed to ask questions.
• Communicating clearly is not easy, we all interpret the information we get differently that’s why it’s very important to ask questions and confirm understanding to ensure the communicated message is not distorted.

4. Guess the Emotion

Another useful exercise from the Training Course Material website is called “ Guess the Emotion .” As you might expect, it involves acting out and guessing emotions. This helps all participants practice empathy and better understand their coworkers or group members’ reactions.

Follow these instructions to play this engaging game:

• Divide the group into two teams.
• Place on a table (or put in a box) a packet of cards, each of which has a particular emotion typed on it
• Have a participant from Group A take the top card from the table and act out (pantomime) the emotion for his/her group. This is to be done in a fixed time limit (such as a minute or two).
• If the emotion is guessed correctly by Group A, they receive ten points.
• Now have a participant from Group B act out an emotion; award points as appropriate.
• Rotate the acting opportunities between the two groups.
• After 20 to 30 minutes of acting and guessing, call time and announce the winning team based on its point total.

If you have a particularly competitive group, consider giving a prize to the winning team!

5. The Guessing Game

Finally, another fun and engaging game that can boost communication skills: “ The Guessing Game. ” You will probably recognize this game, as it’s similar to what many people know as “ Twenty Questions ,” except there is no hard limit on the number of questions you can ask.

To start, separate the group into two teams of equal (or roughly equal) size. Instruct one player from each team to leave the room for one minute and come up with a common object that can be found in most offices (e.g., a stapler, a printer, a whiteboard).

When this person returns, their teammates will try to guess what the object is by asking only “Yes or No” questions (i.e., questions that can only be answered with “yes” or “no”). The team can ask as many questions as they need to figure it out, but remind them that they’re in competition with the other team. If there’s time, you can have multiple rounds for added competition between the teams.

Take the last 10 minutes or so to discuss and debrief. Use the following points and questions to guide it:

• Tell the group that obviously it took a long time and effort for us to find out the object in each round, but what if we didn’t have time and only had one question to ask to find out the object, what would that question be?
• The question would be “What is the object?” which is an open-ended question.
• Open-ended questions are an excellent way to save time and energy and help you get to the information you need fast, however, closed questions can also be very useful in some instances to confirm your understanding or to help you control the conversation with an overly talkative person/customer.

5 Listening Activities for Adults

If you’re intent on improving listening skills, in particular, you have lots of options; give these 5 activities a try.

1. Telephone Exercise

This classic exercise from Becky Norman (2018) at Sift’s Training Zone illustrates why listening is such an important skill, and why we shouldn’t ignore any opportunities to improve it.

Split your group into two even lines. At opposite ends of each line, whisper a phrase or short sentence to the person on the end and tell them to pass it on using only whispers, one person at a time. They can only repeat the phrase or sentence once.

While participants are busy passing the message along to the next person in line, play music or engage them in conversation to create some white noise. This will make it a bit more difficult but it will mimic real-life conditions, where distractions abound.

When the messages have made it to the end of each line, have the last person to receive the message in each line report out on what they heard. Next, have the first person to receive the message in each line report the original message and compare it to the final message received.

2. Stop Listening Exercise

This exercise , also from Becky Norman’s piece (2018), will show participants the emotional consequences of not listening and—hopefully—encourage them to practice better listening skills.

Split your group into two smaller groups of equal size and take one group outside the room. Tell them that they are instructed to stop listening to their partner after about 30 seconds, and to be open in showing their disinterest. Tell the other group to think of something that they are passionate about and be prepared to tell their soon-to-be partner a meaningful or personally relevant story about this topic.

Bring the other group back in, put all the participants into pairs, and tell them to get started. Observe the behavior from the listeners and the reactions from the speakers until you’re sure each speaker has picked up on what’s happening. Stop the conversations at this point and explain the instructions that were given to each group.

Facilitate a group discussion on the importance of listening, how to use active listening, and what indicates that someone is truly listening.

3. Listener and Talker Activity

The “Listener and Talker” activity is another good activity for showing the importance of active listening and giving participants a chance to practice their skills.

Divide your group into pairs, with one partner assigned to the talker role and the other assigned to the listener role. The talker’s job is to describe what he or she wants from a vacation without specifying a destination. The listener’s job is to listen attentively to what is being said (and what is not being said) and to demonstrate their listening through their behavior.

After a few minutes of active listening, the listener should summarize the three or main criteria the talker is considering when it comes to enjoying their vacation. Finally, the listener should try to sell the talker on a destination for their vacation. After a quick debrief on how well the listener listened, the two should switch roles and try the exercise again.

This exercise gives each participant a chance to practice talking about their wants and needs, as well as an opportunity to engage in active listening and use the knowledge they gained to understand and relate to the speaker.

4. Memory Test Activity

This great activity from TrainingCourseMaterial.com is called the “Memory Test” activity.

• Tell participants that you are going to read them a list of words to test their memory.
• Instruct them to listen carefully, as they cannot write down any of the words. Tell them you will test them later to see how many of the words they can remember.
• When you finish reading the list of words, distract your participants by talking about something else for at least one full minute.
• Once you have finished talking, have each participant write down as many words as they can remember from the list.

You (and your participants) will find that it’s pretty difficult to remember a list of somewhat-random words, especially when there is a break in time and another discussion in between hearing them and recalling them! Relate this to real-life listening by emphasizing the importance of paying attention to people when they are speaking to you, especially if it’s an important conversation.

5. Just Listen Activity

This activity comes from the folks at MindTools.com and offers participants a chance to communicate their feelings and provide a recap or rephrasing of another person’s feelings on a subject.

To get started, you will need an even number of people to pair off (or prepare to partner with one yourself) and eight index cards per pair. These index cards should have one topic written on each card; try to make sure the topics are interesting but not too controversial, as you don’t want listeners to dislike the speakers if they disagree with their viewpoint (e.g., you should probably avoid politics and religion).

Use these instructions to conduct the activity:

• Have the team members sit down in their pairs.
• Give each pair eight of the index cards.
• Instruct one partner to choose a random card and then speak for three minutes on how he or she feels about the topic.
• Instruct the other partner to stay quiet while the first partner talks, just listening instead of speaking.
• After the three minutes is up, the listener has one minute to recap what the speaker said (not agree, disagree, or debate, just recap).
• Have each pair switch roles and repeat the exercise so both partners get a chance to speak and to listen.

After each participant has played both roles, end the activity and guide a discussion with the following questions:

• How did speakers feel about their partners’ ability to listen with an open mind? Did their partners’ body language communicate how they felt about what was being said?
• How did listeners feel about not being able to speak about their own views on the topic? How well were they able to keep an open mind? How well did they listen?
• How well did the listening partners summarize the speakers’ opinions? Did they get better as the exercise progressed?
• How can they use the lessons from this exercise at work?

You will find this activity at this link , exercise #4.

6 Nonverbal Communication Activities for Adults

Nonverbal communication is just as important as verbal communication, if not more so!

Use these 6 activities to practice reading and “speaking” effective nonverbal messages.

1. Power of Body Language

This activity from TrainingCourseMaterial.com will help your participants work on their body language skills.

• Tell the participants that you are going to give them a series of instructions and you want them to follow them as fast as they can.
• Put your hand to your nose.
• Clap your hands.
• Touch your shoulder.
• Stamp your foot.
• Cross your arms.
• Put your hand to your mouth (but while saying this one, put your hand to your nose).
• Observe how many participants copied what you did instead of what you said.

Share this observation with your group and lead a discussion on how body language can influence our understanding and our reactions. It can reinforce what we hear or it can interfere with the verbal communication we receive. The more aware we are of this possibility, the better communicators we become. It’s vital to keep your own body language in mind, just as it’s vital to notice and understand others’ body language.

2. Clap and Follow

The “Clap and Follow” activity is a great way to practice using your body in conjunction with verbal communication.

It works like this:

• Tell your group that this is a game that requires their full concentration.
• When they hear one clap from the leader (you), tell them this means they should stand up.
• When they hear two claps from the leader, they should hop once in place.
• When they hear three claps, they should rub their belly.
• When they hear four claps, they should do a 360-degree turn on the spot.
• When they hear five claps, they should pat their head.
• Begin the activity! Start with one clap, then two claps, and so on until you have given the group each instruction once.
• Now, mix it up! Switch between the five different instructions and begin to pick up the pace. This is when the eliminations begin.
• Each time a participant engages in the wrong activity, eliminate them from the game. Continue until there is one clear winner.

If you have a competitive group, you may want to bring a prize to ensure active engagement with the exercise. It will give participants a chance to practice nonverbal communication in a fun context.

3. Wordless Acting

This activity from Grace Fleming (2018) at ThoughtCo will show your participants how much we “speak” with our body language and facial expressions.

Here are the instructions:

• Separate your group into pairs.
• Assign one participant in each pair to be Partner A and the other to be Partner B.
• Give each participant a copy of the script (copied below).
• Instruct Participant A to read his or her lines out loud, but instruct Participant B to communicate his or her lines in a nonverbal way.
• Provide Participant B with a secret emotional distraction written on a piece of paper (e.g., Participant B is in a rush, is really bored, or is feeling guilty).
• Have each pair work through the script.
• After each pair has finished working through the script, have the “A” participants guess what emotion their partner was feeling.

This is the script you will give each participant:

A: Have you seen my book? I can’t remember where I put it. B: Which one? A: The murder mystery. The one you borrowed. B: Is this it? A: No. It’s the one you borrowed. B: I did not! A: Maybe it’s under the chair. Can you look? B: Okay—just give me a minute. A: How long are you going to be? B: Geez, why so impatient? I hate when you get bossy. A: Forget it. I’ll find it myself. B: Wait—I found it!

After the activity, guide a discussion on how much information we can pick up from nonverbal communication and how important it is to regulate our bodies and our facial expressions when communicating, even if we’re also using verbal communication.

4. We Have to Move Now!

Another great exercise from Grace Fleming (2018) is called “We Have to Move Now!” and it will help your participants learn how to express and detect several different emotions.

These are the instructions for this activity:

• Cut several strips of paper.
• On each strip of paper, write down a mood, feeling, or disposition, like guilty, happy, suspicious, paranoid, insulted, or insecure.
• Fold the strips of paper so you can’t see what is written on it and place them in a bowl or jar. These are your prompts.
• Have each participant take a prompt from the bowl or jar and read the exact same sentence to the class, but with the emotion the prompt specifies.
• The sentence everybody will read is: “We all need to gather our possessions and move to another building as soon as possible.”
• Have the participants guess the emotion of each reader by writing down what they think the speaker is feeling (or what they are supposed to be feeling).

After each participant has had a chance to read the sentence based on one of the prompts, run through the emotions displayed and see how many each participant guessed correctly. Finally, lead a debriefing discussion on how things like tone and body language can impact the way a message is received.

5. Stack the Deck

All you’ll need for this exercise is a deck of playing cards, a blindfold for each participant, and some space to move around.

Here’s how “Stack the Deck” works:

• Shuffle the deck of cards and hand one out to each participant.
• Instruct the participants to keep their cards a secret; no one should see the suit or color of another participant’s card.
• Tell the participants that they will not be allowed to talk at all during this exercise.
• Instruct your participants to assemble into four groups according to their suit (hearts, clubs, diamonds, spades), but using only nonverbal communication.
• If you have the time and your participants have the inclination, try blindfolding each participant and giving the same instructions—it makes it much more difficult and more time-consuming!
• Once participants have all gathered into one of the four groups, have them line up according to their rank (Ace is the lowest, King is the highest); again, they cannot speak or show their cards to anyone during this part of the exercise.
• The group that lines up in the right order first wins!

As always, you can offer a prize to the winning team to motivate your participants.

This exercise will show how difficult it is to communicate without words, but it will also show your participants that it is not only possible, it gets easier as they start to pick up on one another’s nonverbal cues.

You can find this exercise at this link (Activity #3).

6. Silent Movie

Finally, facilitate this activity to really drive home the importance of effective nonverbal communication.

Divide your participants into two groups. For the first half of the activity, one group will be screenwriters and the other group will be actors. In the second half, the two groups will switch roles.

Instruct the screenwriters to write a silent movie, but to keep these things in mind:

• Silent movies tell a story without words. It’s important to start the scene with the actor doing an obvious task, like cleaning the house or rowing a boat.
• The scene must be interrupted when a second actor (or several actors) enter the scene, and their arrival should have a big impact. The character(s) could be anyone (or anything), including burglars, salesmen, children, or even animals.
• A physical commotion must occur.
• The problem that is caused by the commotion must be resolved by the end of the scene.

Give the screenwriters time to write out their script, then have the actors perform the script. Once the scene is finished, have the groups switch roles.

The communication game – Asgar Hussain

2 Communication Group Activities

Other great activities for group communication include the “Square Talk” and “Follow All Instructions” activities.

1. Square Talk Activity

For this activity , you will need one blindfold for each participant, one long piece of rope for each team (teams should be composed of around 5 participants each), and 25 minutes.

Follow these steps to give this activity a try:

• Divide your group of participants into groups of about 5 each.
• Clear the room so you have as much space as possible.
• Blindfold each participant and tell them their objective: to make a square from a rope (i.e., stand in the shape of a square with their team).
• Disorientate each participant by moving them a bit, spinning them around, etc.
• All team members are blindfolded and must remain so for the duration of the activity.
• The rope you are holding is approximately ___ feet in length.
• The role you are holding is knotted together to form a circle; it must not be undone.
• You must not let go of the rope.
• You will be told when you have 5 minutes remaining.
• Allow the teams to work on the activity and inform them when they have 5 minutes left.

Once the teams have given this activity their best shot, use these 5 discussion questions to review the importance of good group communication:

• Do you feel as a group you communicated effectively?
• During the Activity, what communication skills did you use effectively?
• During the activity, what communication skills could you have used to improve performance?
• How important is communication in the workplace? Why?
• What key points have you learned about communication from this activity, that you wish to apply in the workplace?

2. Follow All Instructions Activity

This activity from TrainingCourseMaterial.com is a great one for young people, but it can be used with participants of all ages. All you’ll need is a set of instructions for each participant.

• Write all of your teams initials at the top right-hand corner of this sheet.
• Write your first name on your sheet of paper.
• Write the total of 3 + 16 + 32 + 64 here: __________________
• Underline instruction 1 above.
• Check the time by your watch with that of one of your neighbor’s.
• Write down the difference in time between the two watches at the foot of this page.
• Draw three circles in the left-hand margin.
• Put a tick in each of the circles mentioned in 6.
• Sign your signature at the foot of the page.
• On the back of the page, divide 50 by 12.5.
• When you get to this point in the test, stand up, then sit down and continue with the next item.
• If you have carefully followed all these instructions, call out ‘I have’.
• On the reverse of this page, draw quickly what you think an upright bicycle looks like from overhead.
• Check your answer to Item 9, multiply it by 5 and write the result in the left-hand margin opposite this item.
• Write the 5th, 10th, 9th and 20th letters of the alphabet here: ___________________
• Punch three holes with your pen here: o o o
• If you think you are the first person to get this far, call out ‘I’m in the lead’.
• Underline all the even digits on the left-hand side of the page.
• Draw triangles around the holes you punched in Item 15.
• Now you’ve finished reading all the instructions, obey only 1, 2, 20 & 21.
• Stand up and say, “We’re the greatest team in the World!”

As you can see, the instructions include lots of silly directives (e.g., “When you get to this point in the test, stand up, then sit down and continue with the next item.”) that will identify who is following the directions and who is not—but the person that stands is actually the one not following directions!

The first and only verbal instruction you will give participants is to read all the written instructions first before engaging in any of the directives. The first person to complete the list will be declared the winner of the activity. You can offer a prize to the winner if you think the group would be motivated by it.

This exercise is a fun way to see who is paying attention and who is skipping the most vital instruction—to read everything before acting.

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If you’re specifically looking for ways to improve your communication in a romantic relationship, these 17 exercises are a great place to start!

7 Communication Games for Couples

Defeating Divorce shares the following three games aimed at improving communication in a romantic relationship.

This game is goal-directed, meaning the couple is working towards a common goal, and that goal requires effective communication.

• The couple sits back to back with an identical set of building blocks in front of each of them.
• One partner uses their blocks to create some sort of building or structure.
• The builder partner then relays a series of instructions to the other partner to help him or her build the exact same structure.
• The listener partner must try to build the same structure based on the speaker partner’s instructions.

This game takes some serious teamwork and good communication, and it can be repeated as needed to help a couple build their skills.

2. Minefield

You will need a blindfold for one partner, some space to navigate, and some objects with which you can create a minefield or obstacle course. Once the course is ready to go, blindfold one partner and bring them into the room.

The challenge here is for the non-blindfolded partner to guide the blindfolded partner through the obstacle course using only verbal communication. The couple will only succeed if the blindfolded partner has trust in their partner and the non-blindfolded partner is an effective verbal communicator.

Feelings of frustration are common in this game, but it can be a great way to highlight issues in communication or, alternately, highlight the couple’s communication strengths.

3. Give Me a Hand

This game is another one that can be frustrating for the couple but ultimately provides a great opportunity to build effective communication skills and unite the two in a common goal.

In this game, the couple will be given a seemingly easy task to complete, such as buttoning a shirt or tying a shoe, but with a catch—each partner will have one arm tied behind their back. The couple will find that the lack of one arm makes the task much more difficult than they might expect!

To complete the task, the couple will need to communicate effectively and coordinate their movements. It will be tough, but immensely satisfying to successfully complete this challenge!

4. Twenty Questions Times Two

If you remember the game “Twenty Questions”, you’ll recognize this game. It can be used to help couples communicate, share important details, and strengthen their connection.

Here’s how:

• The couple should schedule some time alone, without distractions.
• Before playing the game, each partner should come up with a list of 20 detailed personal questions to ask the other partner. The couple should feel free to get creative here!
• Both partners take turns asking each other one question at a time.
• When they’ve finished asking each other their questions, they should reverse them! Instead of asking questions like, “What is your favorite color?” each partner will ask, “What is my favorite color?”

This fun twist on a familiar game will result in greater knowledge and understanding of your spouse and, hopefully, better communication skills.

5. Eye-to-Eye

This game is a good way for couples to work on communicating and improving their connection, and all you need is your eyes!

Here’s how to do it:

• The couple sits facing each other, close enough to hold hands.
• Each partner looks directly into the other partner’s eyes.
• Each partner should take a minute to notice the feelings they are experiencing at this point.
• One partner begins talking about something simple and easy to discuss, like what happened that day, what they had for lunch, or something they are grateful for.
• The other partner reciprocates with a similar conversation, all while holding eye contact.
• The couple continues sharing things one at a time until each partner has shared at least three or four times.
• The couple discusses what the experience was like.

Many people find this game uncomfortable at first, but with practice, it can greatly enhance your sense of intimacy with your partner.

6. The Top Three

Similar to the “three good things” exercise, this game’s aim is to boost a couple’s gratitude for one another and give them both a chance to practice expressing it. Couples should schedule a time for this game every day, but the good news is that it doesn’t take long—just a few minutes will do.

To play “The Top Three”, couples should follow these instructions:

• At the end of each day, take some time to reflect on your day. Think about what your partner has done for you today.
• Take turns sharing those three things with your partner and tell them what each thing meant to you.
• Don’t forget to say “thank you” or otherwise verbally express your gratitude to your partner!

This game gets couples to practice vocalizing their appreciation and expressing gratitude, two things that are not necessarily in everyone’s daily communications but can have a big impact on a relationship.

7. Make a Playdate

Playdates are not just for kids or puppies—they are a great idea for couples as well! A play date is not your average, regularly scheduled programming sort of date, but something that is different, spontaneous, unique, and/or just plain fun!

Here are the three ground rules for the playdate:

• It has to be something for just the couple to do and they cannot include the kids or discuss mundane things like chores or bills.
• It has to be something that requires both partners to be present in the moment; think sailing, rock climbing, or dance lessons rather than seeing a movie or going out to dinner.
• The couple should take turns picking the activity and try to surprise their partner with something new.

Planning this date will not only make it easier to feel connected and closer to one another, but it also provides couples with an opportunity to communicate their love for one another through their actions. Depending on the date activity, it can also provide some much-needed time for the couple to talk.

5 Exercises and Activities for Married Couples

These exercises , also from Defeating Divorce, are not just for married couples, but for anyone in a committed relationship.

1. Fireside Chats

This communication exercise is based on President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “fireside chats,” in which he addressed the American people with the intention of making it feel as if he was speaking directly into their living room, carrying on a calm and rational discussion of important issues.

The intention of this exercise for couples is similar: to make the couple feel more connected, more aware of what is going on in each other’s lives, and to maintain a pulse on how the relationship is going.

The two partners should schedule a 15 to 30-minute “fireside chat” each week to practice their ability to speak calmly, respectfully, and effectively about important and relevant issues. They should minimize the chances of distraction (turn off the TV, put their phones on silent, etc.) and focus only on one another for these chats.

What the couple discusses is up to them, but if there are salient relationship issues, this is a good time to talk about them. If the issues are very serious, it may be a good idea to start out this exercise talking about less intense, less emotional topics before moving on to the problem areas.

2. High-Low Activity

The high-low activity also aims to help couples feel more connected and in touch with one another, which requires measured and thoughtful communication. Engaging in this exercise daily will give the couple a chance to practice their communication skills on a regular basis, as well as their active listening skills.

Here’s how the exercise works:

• Wait until the end of the day (e.g., at the end of dinner, around bedtime) to put it into practice.
• The couple will then “check-in” with each other about the other’s day.
• Each partner will ask the other to share their “high” of the day or the best part of their day.
• Next, each partner will ask the other to share their “low” of the day or the worst or most disappointing part of their day.
• As one partner is sharing, the other should practice active listening techniques, conveying their empathy and understanding to their partner.

This simple activity will result in a more intimate and understanding relationship between the two partners, all for just a few minutes a day.

3. Listening Without Words

If a couple wants to practice both their verbal and nonverbal communication, this is a great way to do it. The “Listening Without Words” activity allows each partner to apply both verbal and nonverbal communication skills, as it involves switching between only speaking and only listening.

This is how to practice it:

• The couple will schedule some time for themselves without kids, work, or other responsibilities interrupting them.
• They set a timer for somewhere between 3 to 5 minutes.
• Until the timer goes off, one partner acts as the speaker and the other acts as the listener. The speaker will talk about any subject they’d like to talk about.
• While the speaker talks, the listener will attempt to show the speaker compassion, empathy, and understanding through nonverbal communication only (e.g., smiling, nodding, taking their partner’s hand).
• When the timer goes off, the partners will have a chance to process what they experienced and discuss any thoughts or feelings that came up.
• Finally, the partners switch roles and repeat the exercise.

This exercise is a great way to boost your bond and your skills at the same time.

4. Eye See You

Similar to a previous exercise (“Eye-to-Eye”), this exercise relies heavily on eye contact; however, unlike the previous exercise, this one does not allow talking until the end.

Here’s how to give it a try:

• The couple should be in a quiet and relaxing environment, with as few distractions as possible.
• They sit in two chairs facing one another, near to one another but not touching.
• The couple sets a timer for five minutes and settles in their respective seats, making and holding eye contact with one another. They will hold eye contact but refrain from speaking or touching until the timer goes off.
• Both partners should be encouraged to note any thoughts, feelings, or sensations that come bubbling up during these five minutes.
• Once the timer goes off, the two should try to guess what the other person was thinking and feeling during the five minutes. Once they have a chance to guess, they should discuss these things that bubbled to the surface as they maintained eye contact.

It might surprise some people to hear what their partner was thinking and feeling during the activity, but a strong relationship depends on understanding and empathizing with one another, making communication like this a necessity.

5. Send Me a Postcard

Although we’ve mostly focused on verbal communication and communications via body language, facial expressions, and touch, there is another form that we haven’t mentioned: written communication. This activity guides the couple in developing more effective written communication skills.

Both partners should have two blank postcards and something to write with for this exercise. On one postcard, each partner will write down a message to the other partner communicating a frustration, a feeling, or a desire. They should take a few minutes to create a thoughtful message to their partner.

Once they have their postcard ready to “mail” each partner will deliver their message to their partner without any verbal communication. They will both read their partner’s message and take a few moments to process. When they feel ready, they will use their remaining blank postcard to craft a response to their partner’s message.

When both partners have finished writing their response, they will deliver those messages to one another as well. After they have both read the response postcards, the couple can debrief and discuss their messages to one another.

5 Communication Exercises for Couples Therapy

If you’re hungry for more couples’ communication exercises, maybe these five exercises will hit the spot!

1. Active Listening

Active listening is not the easiest skill to master, but it is an important one to develop. This exercise from marriage counseling expert Racheal Tasker will give you a chance to practice it with the person closest to you.

The next time you and your partner are talking about something important or sensitive, put these tips and techniques into practice:

• The speaker should remain focused on a single thought or idea.
• The listener should listen attentively to the speaker, concentrating on understanding their perspective and attempting to gain new insights into their thoughts and feelings.
• The speaker and listener should switch roles after a while to allow each to practice both types of communication.
• Both partners should practice speaking and listening with patience and love, allowing their feelings for their partner to guide them toward true understanding rather than just reacting (Tasker, n.d.).

2. Sharing Emotions Freely

It can be tough to be truly open with our emotions, but it’s vital for effective communication and a healthy relationship. Try this exercise to work on this skill.

The couple should agree to try this exercise together and follow these instructions:

• Decide on a specific time and place to put this exercise into practice.
• Let your partner know what you need to feel safe sharing your feelings, and listen to what your partner needs to feel safe sharing his or her feelings.
• Be sure to also ask your partner what would make him or her feel more comfortable as you share your feelings, as it can be just as difficult to hear as it is to share.
• Share with your partner! If it helps, use a timer to limit how much sharing can occur and to ensure equal time to share feelings.
• Listen to what your partner tells you and discuss what, if any, concrete steps you can take based on the information you’ve both shared. Commit to using the information you gained to improve your communication skills and your relationship in general (Tasker, n.d.).

3. Use Positive Language

Another great exercise from Racheal Tasker is focused on using positive language with one another. It can be surprisingly easy to slide into a pattern of mostly neutral or even negative language with your partner, but you can use this exercise to counter that tendency.

Here’s what to do:

• Commit to using positive language when you communicate with your partner.
• Ask your partner to make the same commitment to positive language.
• Avoid being overly critical or negative when communicating with your partner.
• Use a positive and encouraging tone when you speak to your partner.
• Keep an eye on the words you use; try to incorporate words like “love”, “feel”, “appreciate”, and ditch words like “fault”, “never”, and “hate” (e.g., “I hate it when you do X!”).

As partners continue to practice this exercise on a regular basis, they will find that their communication style grows more positive with less effort, and their relationship will flourish (Tasker, n.d.).

4. Take a Trip Together

There’s nothing like traveling with someone to work on your communication skills! Making a trip successful requires tons of communication, coordination, and clear expectations, but it can also open you up to fun new experiences and relaxation. To practice communicating with your partner, try planning and taking a trip together.

Plan your trip with a focus on doing things you both like, going to a place you’d both like to visit, and trying new food, activities, and other experiences together. Getting out of your routine and into a novel environment can do wonders for your communication—not to mention your overall mood.

Use some of the other tips and techniques mentioned in this article when you are planning your trip and while you are enjoying your trip; you’re sure to see some improvements to your communication with your partner (Tasker, n.d.).

You can find this exercise at this link , second exercise from the bottom.

5. I Feel (Blank)

The final exercise from Tasker is called “I Feel _____” and it’s a simple one.

We often have trouble sharing our feelings, even (or especially) with those we are closest to. A great way to work on communicating your feelings more often—and more effectively—is to practice saying “I feel (blank).”

The next time you are experiencing strong emotions or discussing a sensitive or difficult subject with your partner, try beginning your sentences with “I feel…” and continue from there. So, if you’re upset with your partner for forgetting about an important appointment or canceling plans at the last minute, instead of saying “You don’t respect my time,” try “I feel like you don’t respect my time.”

Framing your discussion in this manner—as a statement of your feelings rather than a personal attack or blaming session—is not only conducive to greater understanding, it also shows your partner that you care about having a constructive conversation and that your intentions are not to hurt them but to help them see from your perspective.

According to researchers Peterson and Green (2009), family communication is so important because:

“…it enables members to express their needs, wants, and concerns to each other. Open and honest communication creates an atmosphere that allows family members to express their differences as well as love and admiration for one another.”

The benefits of high-quality communication make spending time on improving the way family members relate to one another a task that is well worth the time spent on it. If you’re interested in working on your communication skills as a family, give the following activities and exercises a try.

These 14 activities are great tools to use in family therapy, but you can also try them at home.

4 Group Exercises for the Family

These four group exercises are a great introduction to communication skill-building as a family. They’re fun, engaging, and good for all ages!

1. What If?

The best time to work on communication skills is when families take the time to just sit and relax together. This simple game is a great way to do that, allowing families to improve how they communicate with one another while laughing together and putting their imagination to good use.

You will need strips of paper, a pencil or pen for each family member, and two bowls.

• Get two slips of paper and something to write with for each family member.
• On the first slip, have each family member write a question off the top of his or her head; it can be silly, serious, or anywhere in between. Put all the questions in one of the bowls and give them a good mix.
• On the second slip of paper, have each family member write an answer to the question they came up with. Place these slips in the second bowl and mix them up.
• Pass each bowl around the room and have each family member take one question slip and one answer slip.
• Have each family member read the question and the answer that they have in their hand. The questions and answers might fit well together or they may result in absurd combinations!
• Continue the game with two more slips of blank paper. It may take a few rounds for everyone to get the hang of the game, but family members will get more comfortable with the game and enjoy it more as they go along.

Use the following questions to guide your discussion as a family:

• Did the activity spark your imagination?
• Why did the questions and answers get funnier after several rounds?

2. Expressing Individuality

Although families usually share values, norms, and beliefs, that doesn’t mean all family members will see things the same way. It can be hard for some family members to communicate their thoughts and feelings when they feel like the odd one out or a “black sheep” in the family.

To make sure your family is a safe space for everyone to share their thoughts and feelings, give the “Expressing Individuality” activity a try. It will help each family member understand that they are a valuable part of the family and that they are always free to share their unique perspective.

You’ll need about an hour for this activity, 15 minutes to make the dough and 45 minutes for the activity itself. Use one of the recipes below to make your own play dough as a family.

If you want to make reusable play dough, mix together:

• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup water (add food coloring to water if you want colored clay)
• 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1 tablespoon oil

After mixing these ingredients together, put over low heat and stir slowly. When the dough has formed into a small ball, remove it from the heat and knead while still warm. Store the clay in a sealed container.

If you plan on baking your designs at the end of this activity to preserve them, mix together:

• ½ cup water
• Food coloring (if desired—you can also paint the figures after you bake them)

Follow these instructions to encourage each family member to express their individuality:

• If you love Boy Scouts, you may want to mold the image of a person sitting on a log by a campfire.
• If you received an award as the “Employee of the Month,” you may want to mold the image of something that represents hard work, or dependability.
• If friendliness is a personal characteristic that you value, you may want to mold a face with a pleasant smile, or if you have a great love for animals, you may want to mold several of your favorite animals.
• After creating your unique design, you can preserve it by placing it on a cookie sheet and baking it in the oven on warm for several hours (until hard). This will harden the clay hard so that it maintains its shape. If you did not use food coloring to color the clay, or if you like to paint, you could paint the hardened figure. Once everyone has completed a mold, display these molds in the home.

To continue working on communicating your individuality as a family, ask these questions and discuss your answers together:

• Why did you choose to make what you did?
• What does it mean to you?

If the idea of creating a figure out of play dough doesn’t appeal to you, you can also try these two alternatives:

• You could draw pictures using plain white paper and colored pencils/crayons. Drawing may allow you to express more ideas than if you use clay. Make sure that you do not place an emphasis on artistic abilities. It is okay to draw simple stick figures that represent people or other objects.
• You could cut pictures out of old magazines and paste them on a poster board. After each person has completed a mold, picture, or collage, allow each family member to explain how their collage, picture or mold represents them.

3. Hints of Anger

Anger is a normal human emotion, and we will all get angry at some point. Instead of trying to avoid or deny anger, it’s vital that families learn how to manage their anger and communicate it to others in a healthy way. This activity will help family members identify their anger cues (the signs that indicate they are getting angry) and help them regulate their emotions to ensure they don’t say or do something they will regret.

Here’s how to do this activity as a family:

• Tell family members to think about a time when they were angry or upset, and consider how they felt.
• Were your hands relaxed or clenched in a fist?
• Was your heart rate normal or beating fast?
• Were your muscles relaxed or tight with tension?
• What kind of thoughts was going through your head?
• As a family, discuss any discrepancies between what you think about your anger cues and what other family members think.
• How did your body feel during this period of time?
• In which scenario did you feel more comfortable, angry, or happy?
• Discuss the importance of knowing when you are getting upset and might need to take a break and think.

After the activity, discuss these questions as a family:

• Why is it important to recognize the signs that you are angry?
• Why is it important to control your anger?
• What do you feel like specifically, when you are upset?
• What are the things you are going to do to manage your anger so it does not hurt your family relationships?
• Can recognizing anger cues help in managing your anger?

4. Family Meetings

Family meetings are a good idea for a lot of reasons, but yet another benefit of these get-togethers is the potential for building and developing better communication skills as a family. Regular family meetings can help family members learn how to:

• Make joint decisions
• Plan together
• Accept responsibility
• Show concern for others
• Spend some quality time together

Pick one night of the week when your family can consistently get together for a weekly family meeting that lasts 30 to 60 minutes, and make sure it’s scheduled on everyone’s calendar.

Here’s how to conduct good family meetings:

• Set a regular time. Setting a regular time and place gives the family council a position of importance and results in it becoming a permanent part of family operations. If everyone knows that the family is meeting together regularly, they find that most problems can wait a few days to be discussed. For this reason, some families like weekly meetings.
• Use an agenda. Post a paper during the week where family members can list concerns they want brought up (possibly, the message center). Discuss things in the order listed. This also reduces problems between meetings when parents can say, “List it on the agenda and we’ll discuss it at the meeting.”
• Attendance is voluntary . All members of the family are invited to attend — but attendance is voluntary. However, if a member is not present, he/she is still expected to abide by any decisions made by the family council.
• Each person has an equal voice . Everyone should be encouraged to contribute ideas and suggestions. All members must be treated the same, regardless of age. Using the steps of negotiation to (1) introduce the problem, (2) discuss solutions, and (3) vote on a solution. This gives everyone a chance to be involved. Councils do not always run smoothly. Teenagers are often suspicious that the new program is just another way for parents to gain compliance with their demands. In the first council meetings, rebelliousness may be exhibited to deliberately test whether parents are sincere about including them in family decision-making.
• Use rules of order . If participation is to be equal, then some type of order must be maintained. If a person has the right to express himself, then he also has the right to be heard — which implies that others have the obligation to listen. Rules of order help this situation.
• Rotate chairmanship . If the same person conducts all meetings, that person eventually begins to assume an air of superiority. To help maintain a feeling of equality, family members should take turns conducting the councils. This allows each person to experience the privileges and the responsibilities of this position.
• Accentuate solutions . Family council should not be “just a gripe session” — a time to get together and complain. In order to prevent this, you may decide that the person presenting a problem must also suggest one possible solution. Family members could then discuss alternate solutions or modify the one presented. In practice, some solutions do not work as well as anticipated. As family members begin to live with a decision, they may decide it needs to be changed. This change, however, must wait until the next regular meeting. Children soon recognize a need for better solutions and they learn by experience to make wiser choices. When family council is held regularly, each member learns to project ahead and anticipate problems. When this occurs, the emphasis at council meetings shifts from problem-solving to problem prevention and planning. Family council can also be a time to plan fun things like vacations or family outings. Families can talk about different places to visit and how they want to spend the time available.
• Decide on the authority level . The family council can be the final authority for the family, or a family can have a modified version of decision making. For it to be effective, however, most decisions made by the council need to be binding. If parents always overrule the council, children will soon lose interest.
• Keep a record . There sometimes develops a difference of opinions as to who conducted the last meeting, what matters were discussed, and what plans were agreed upon. For this reason, a secretary to record minutes is most helpful. The secretary can rotate with each meeting.

After your first family meeting, discuss these questions as a family:

• How did your first family meeting go?
• What about the meeting was good? What was bad?
• What do you want to incorporate in future meetings?

4 Active Listening Exercises

Active listening is a vital part of communication and can greatly improve relationships between family members. These four active listening exercises are a great way to boost your skills.

1. Precision Communication

Another activity that can help your family build and continue to develop good communication skills is called “Precision Communication.” It’s focused on active listening, which is a vital part of communication and conducive to better understanding and stronger, healthier relationships.

Here’s how to put this activity into practice:

• Set up a maze in your home using furniture, such as kitchen chairs or other pieces of furniture that can act as a barrier.
• Tie string or yarn between the furniture to create a clear path through the maze.
• Select a family member that will try to walk through the maze blindfolded. This person must not see the maze prior to being blindfolded.
• Have someone give voice instructions so the family member can be directed through the maze.

This activity’s aim is to see if the family member giving instructions can help the blindfolded family member get through the maze without bumping into the furniture, walls, or string. This means that not only must the speaking family member communicate clear and detailed instructions, but the blindfolded family member must also use their active listening skills to receive the instructions and implement them effectively.

Use these discussion questions to debrief and maximize this learning opportunity:

• Why was clear detailed communication necessary for this exercise?
• How important was it to listen carefully to the one giving instructions? Why?
• What were some of the difficulties associated with helping a family member complete this exercise?
• Using some of the ideas from this exercise, how can you, as a family, improve your communication skills?

If you want more from this activity, try this follow-up:

Draw a simple picture or pattern on a piece of paper. Without letting family members see the diagram, tell them what they need to do to make a copy of your picture that matches as closely as possible. After giving detailed instructions, see how accurately the pictures match up.

2. End of the Word—Beginning of the Next

This is a fun game on the Encourage Play website that can keep your kids actively engaged in building their listening skills.

Here’s how to play:

• One person (probably an adult) starts the game by giving out one word—it can be any word, it just needs to be one that every family member knows how to spell.
• The next family member must listen to the word the previous person said, then come up with a word that starts with the letter the last word ended with.

This is an easy game to play since you don’t need any materials, just a few minutes and the ability to hear one another! That makes it a great game for car rides, waiting in restaurants, or standing in a long line. To make it more challenging, give it a bit of complexity by limiting the words to a category, like animals or cities.

3. Red Light Green Light

Another exercise from the Encourage Play website is a familiar one. It’s based on the classic “Red Light, Green Light” game in which the leader gives instructions by color: saying “red light” means stop and saying “green light” means go.

To make the game a bit more challenging and really emphasize the importance of active listening, incorporate these three variations to the game:

• Different colors refer to different types of movement; for example, yellow light could mean skipping, purple light could mean crab walking, and blue light could mean hopping.
• Pretend to be a different animal for different colors (yellow = lion, green = bunny, purple = frog, etc.).
• Use words that rhyme with red or green to see if the players catch the difference (e.g., “Bread Light! Teen Light!”).

4. Tell a Group Story

Group stories are a great way to practice active listening with the whole family. It also gives kids a chance to be creative and silly, which helps to keep them engaged in the activity.

• The first person (probably an adult) starts a story with just one sentence (e.g., “Once upon a time, there was a very curious brown bunny”).
• The next person adds onto the story with just one sentence as well (e.g., “This bunny lived with her mother and father in a cozy little burrow under a willow tree”).
• The story continues until everyone has contributed at least a couple of sentences to the story.

This activity boosts active listening skills because it requires careful and attentive listening to what has already been said in order to make a good contribution to the story.

3 Assertive Communication Exercises

One of the best skills to teach your kids is how to be assertive instead of aggressive or passive (or passive-aggressive). Use these three assertive communication activities to help them learn this important skill.

1. Assertive Communication Worksheet

This worksheet is a great way to help older kids understand the difference between types of communication and to learn how to communicate assertively.

The worksheet first provides a good working definition of assertive communication:

“A communication style in which a person stands up for their own needs and wants, while also taking into consideration the needs and wants of others, without behaving passively or aggressively.”

It also outlines the traits of people who are assertive communicators, including:

• Clearly state needs and wants
• Eye contact
• Listens to others without interruption
• Appropriate speaking volume
• Steady tone of voice
• Confident body language

Next, it shares four tips on communicating assertively:

• Respect yourself—your wants and needs are as important as everyone else’s.
• Express your thought and feelings calmly rather than using the silent treatment or yelling and threatening.
• Plan out what you’re going to say before you say it.
• Say “no” when you need to, say it clearly, and do it without lying.

After some examples of assertive communication, we get to the active part of the worksheet. It’s geared toward adults, but the scenarios can be tweaked to fit kids as well.

There are four situations presented and space to write out your own assertive response to each. These situations are:

• Your partner says, “ I know you have plans for the weekend, but I really need you to watch the kids. I have a friend coming to town, and we made plans .”
• Situation: You’ve just received your food at a restaurant, and it was prepared incorrectly. Your sandwich seems to have extra mayo, instead of no mayo.
• Your friend says, “ Hey, can I borrow some money? I want to buy these shoes, but I left my wallet at home. I’ll pay you back soon, I swear. It won’t be like last time .”
• Situation: Your neighbor is adding an expansion to their house, and the crew starts working, very loudly, at 5 am. It has woken you up every day for a week.

Working through these scenarios as a family can help your kids see what healthy assertive communication looks like and show them that it’s okay to say “no” sometimes.

2. The Aggressive Alligator

The Aggressive Alligator is a great tool from Kristina Marcelli-Sargent, for teaching assertiveness over-aggressiveness or passiveness. It makes what can be a dry and boring subject more interesting and engaging.

Start by giving simple definitions to the terms “passive,” “aggressive,” and “assertive.” Next, show them a list of animals or a bin of small stuffed animals and allow them to choose an animal that they feel represents each definition. The aggressive animal doesn’t need to be an alligator, it can be anything that makes sense to your children.

After your kids have chosen an animal for each term, describe some social situations and instruct your kids to act them out with their animals. Each animal should act according to the definition it represents (e.g., the aggressive alligator should act aggressively, the passive panda should act passively, and the assertive anteater should act assertively).

Once all scenarios have been acted out, talk to your kids about how the outcomes differed between the three animals. Point out which one(s) resulted in a positive outcome and which one(s) should probably be avoided. In the future, you can refer back to the assertive anteater to remind your kids to be assertive instead of passive or aggressive (Sargent, 2015).

3. Keeping Cool

A great lesson for kids to learn is that assertive communication is about being firm and direct without being angry or upset. This activity will help you teach healthy assertiveness to your kids or students.

Here’s how to go about it:

• First, ask your kids how people might feel when they are bullied. If they have trouble coming up with answers, talk about how people might feel angry, scared, sad, upset, embarrassed, or confused.
• Next, ask your kids what kinds of things people want to do when they feel this way. If they can’t think of things people might do when they feel upset, angry, or sad, mention that they might yell, throw something, hit something, hide, cry, or do something else to make another person feel as bad as they feel.
• Ask your kids if they think these are good or helpful things to do. Explain how everyone has strong, negative feelings like this sometimes, and that it’s okay to feel them. These feelings have a purpose; they tell us that something is wrong or that something needs to be fixed, but they can also encourage us to do the wrong thing unless we learn how to keep a cool head.
• Close your eyes and take several slow deep breaths
• Count to ten
• Relax the muscles in your face and body
• Talk silently to yourself and repeat a soothing phrase, such as “Keep calm” or “I control my feelings”
• Get a drink of water
• Go sit by a person you trust

Discuss these options with the whole group and decide together on what the best techniques are, then practice using them together.

Click here to read about this exercise from the Education Development Center’s Bullying Prevention program.

3 Nonverbal Communication Exercises

Finally, although verbal communication is generally the focus of skill-building exercises and activities, nonverbal communication is also a vital skill to develop.

Use these 3 exercises to help your kids build their nonverbal skills.

1. Understanding Non-Verbal Communication

Things like tone of voice, facial expressions, body posture, and hand gestures are all non-verbal, but they are hugely important in our communication with others. If we say one thing with our words and another with our face or body, we can end up giving mixed messages and confusing others.

To make sure we are saying what we want to say with our words and our face, body, and tone, help your kids learn how to understand and “speak” non-verbal communications.

Here’s s description of this activity:

“As a family, make a list of different non-verbal actions. For example, folding your arms, snorting, frowning, etc… Select a TV program or a segment of a video. Watch about 5 to 7 minutes of the program with the volume off. While watching the program without volume, identify the different non-verbal messages, especially the feelings that are expressed. After 5 to 7 minutes, turn off the TV and discuss what you observed. You could even carry on the discussion as the program continues.”

To get the discussion started, use questions like:

• What were the non-verbal messages that you observed?
• How important do you think the non-verbal messages are in helping you to enjoy the movie and understand what was going on in the movie?
• Did you observe any confusing non-verbal messages?
• What feelings were expressed through non-verbal communication?
• What were some of the difficulties of this activity?
• What can you do to be more aware of non-verbal messages?
• Did everyone think the non-verbal message meant the same thing?
• Are non-verbal messages always obvious in real life?

If you want more from this exercise, try this follow-up activity. Seat two family members away from each other and have them carry on a conversation about giving directions to somewhere or explaining how to do something. As they talk, they should focus on trying to understand the other person’s feelings.

After doing this for a few minutes, the two should turn around, face each other, and continue the discussion—they will likely find it much easier!

Use the following questions to guide your discussion after the follow-up:

• When you had your backs to each other, did a lack of non-verbal communication affect your ability to communicate with the other person? If so, how?
• What feelings did you experience as you communicated with your back to the other person?
• When you spoke to the other person face-to-face, did this improve your ability to communicate and understand the other person’s feelings? If so, how?
• Did face-to-face communication improve your ability to understand the other person’s feelings?
• How can you increase your awareness of non-verbal messages you do not mean to be sending?
• How can you be aware of how we may misinterpret someone else’s non-verbal messages?”

2. Charades

Charades is a popular game with kids since it’s fun, easy to play, and can result in some seriously silly situations.

Here’s what you need to do:

• Animals: Monkey, dog, cat, rabbit, kangaroo, snake
• Activities: brushing teeth, playing cards, shining a flashlight, fishing, playing frisbee
• Emotions: scared, sad, bored, angry, happy, wary, proud

Acting out these prompts will give kids an opportunity to practice communicating non-verbally, a skill that they can easily build over time (Simmons, n.d.).

This nonverbal communication activity  is available from Sue Simmons at Equinox Family Consulting.

3. Silent Snack

Finally, another activity from Sue Simmons is called “ Silent Snack ” and it gives young children a chance to have fun while building their nonverbal communication skills.

Follow these instructions to give it a try:

• Put out a few different snacks in individual bowls.
• Tell everyone it’s “Silent Snack Time,” meaning there’s no talking allowed!
• Offer each person a taste of each snack.
• Each player should take turns sharing their opinion on each snack. They can use indicators like thumbs up and thumbs down or facial expressions to communicate their opinions.

It’s a simple activity, but an effective one! Give it a try at your next snack time.

17 Exercises To Develop Positive Communication

17 Positive Communication Exercises [PDFs] to help others develop communication skills for successful social interactions and positive, fulfilling relationships.

Created by Experts. 100% Science-based.

I hope you leave this piece with a treasure trove of new resources you can use to improve your own life or the lives of your clients.

Communication skills are one of the most important skills a person can have, making it well worth your while to devote some time and energy to develop them.

What are your favorite ways to work on communicating with your spouse? Do you schedule a time to talk about how your relationship is doing or do you just let it flow naturally? What do you think are the best ways to build, enhance, and maintain your communication skills? Let us know in the comments section.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Positive Communication Exercises (PDF) for free .

• Abass, S. (n.d.). 3 benefits of effective communication in a relationship. Lifehack. Retrieved from https://www.lifehack.org/509189/3-benefits-effective-communication-relationship
• https://defeatingdivorce.com/communication-exercises-for-couples/
• Fleming, G. (2018). 4 helpful nonverbal communication activities. ThoughtCo. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/nonverbal-communication-activities-1857230
• Heitler, S. (2010). What does communication have to do with a good relationship? GoodTherapy. Retrieved from https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/what-does-communication-have-to-do-with-good-relationship
• Lee, T. R., & Pyfer, T. (n.d.). Helping youth succeed: Strengthening family ties: A workbook of activities designed to strengthen family relationships . Utah State University Extension. Retrieved from https://www.families-first.net/uploads/userfiles/files/FL_Youth_02.pdf
• Mendler, A. (2013). Teaching your students how to have a conversation. Edutopia. Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/blog/teaching-your-students-conversation-allen-mendler
• Norman, B. (2018). Trainers’ tips: Active listening exercises. Training Zone . Retrieved from https://www.trainingzone.co.uk/develop/cpd/trainers-tips-active-listening-exercises
• Peterson, R., & Green, S. (2009). Helping Youth Succeed: Keys to successful family functioning: Communication . Virginia Cooperative Extension. Retrieved from https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/350/350-092/350-092_pdf.pdf
• Reichmann, D. (n.d.). 5 communication games guaranteed to bring you closer. Engaged Marriage . Retrieved from https://www.engagedmarriage.com/5-communication-games/
• Rosenberg, M. B. (1999). Nonviolent communication: A language of compassion. Del Mar.
• Sargent, K. M. (2015). The aggressive alligator: Fun ways to teach assertiveness to children. Art of Social Work . Retrieved from https://kristinamarcelli.wordpress.com/2015/10/21/the-aggressive-alligator-fun-ways-to-teach-assertiveness-to-children/
• Simmons, S. (n.d.). Nonverbal games: 10 simple activities . Equinox Family Consulting, Ltd. Retrieved from https://equinoxfamilyconsulting.com/communication/nonverbal-games-10-simple-activities/
• Stanfield, J. (2017). 8 tips to teach effective communication skills. James Stanfield. Retrieved from https://stanfield.com/blog/2017/11/8-tips-teach-effective-communication-skills/
• Sott, A. (2018). Teaching communication skills. Edutopia. Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/article/teaching-communication-skills
• Tasker, R. (n.d.). 6 amazing couples therapy exercises for improving communication . GuideDoc . Retrieved from https://guidedoc.com/couples-therapy-exercises-for-improving-communication
• Victoria Department of Health & Human Services. (n.d.). Relationships and communications . Better Health Channel. Retrieved from https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/relationships-and-communication

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100 Words Essay on Barriers To Effective Communication

Introduction.

Communication is a key part of our lives. It’s how we share ideas, feelings, and information. But sometimes, things can get in the way of clear communication. These obstacles are called barriers to effective communication.

Physical Barriers

Physical barriers are things like distance, noise, or poor technology. If you’re trying to talk to someone far away, or in a loud place, it can be hard to hear and understand them. Bad phone or internet connection can also make communication difficult.

Language Barriers

Sometimes, people don’t speak the same language. This can make it hard to communicate. Even if you both speak the same language, different accents or use of slang can create misunderstandings.

Emotional Barriers

Emotions can also be a barrier. If someone is upset, angry, or scared, they might not be able to communicate clearly. They might also misunderstand what others are trying to say.

Cultural Barriers

Different cultures have different ways of communicating. What might be polite in one culture could be rude in another. These differences can lead to confusion and misunderstandings.

Recognizing these barriers is the first step to better communication. With understanding and patience, we can work to overcome these obstacles and communicate more effectively.

250 Words Essay on Barriers To Effective Communication

Understanding communication.

Communication is the process of sharing or exchanging information, ideas, or feelings. It plays a key role in our daily lives. But sometimes, we face problems in communicating effectively. These problems are known as barriers to effective communication.

Physical barriers are the first type of barriers. They include distance, noise, or any other physical hindrance that stops the message from being delivered or understood. For instance, a loud noise in the background can make it hard for someone to hear what another person is saying.

Language barriers happen when people speak different languages or use complex words that others cannot understand. If the receiver doesn’t understand the language or words used by the sender, the message will not be understood.

Emotional barriers occur when people’s feelings or emotions stop them from understanding the message. If a person is angry, upset, or stressed, they might not understand or interpret the message correctly.

Overcoming Barriers

To overcome these barriers, we can use simple language, make sure the environment is suitable for communication, try to understand others’ feelings, and respect different cultures. By doing this, we can communicate more effectively.

In conclusion, understanding and overcoming these barriers can make our communication more effective. It helps us to share our ideas and feelings more clearly and makes our daily lives easier.

500 Words Essay on Barriers To Effective Communication

Physical barriers are the first type of problem. These can be anything that stops the message from reaching the other person. For example, if you are trying to talk to someone in a noisy room, they might not hear you. This is a physical barrier. Other examples include distance, poor lighting, or bad signal on your phone.

The second type of barrier is language. If two people don’t speak the same language, they can’t understand each other. Even if they do speak the same language, they might use different words or phrases. This can cause confusion. For example, in English, the word “biscuit” means different things in the UK and the US.

The fourth type of barrier is cultural. Different cultures have different ways of communicating. What is polite in one culture might be rude in another. For example, in some cultures, it’s rude to make eye contact. In others, it’s a sign of respect. These differences can cause misunderstandings.

Personal Barriers

The last type of barrier is personal. These are things like beliefs, attitudes, or prejudices. For example, if someone believes that all teenagers are lazy, they might not listen to a teenager’s ideas. This is a personal barrier.

In conclusion, effective communication can face many barriers. These include physical, language, emotional, cultural, and personal barriers. By understanding these, we can work to overcome them. This will help us to build stronger bridges of communication with others. This is important because good communication helps us to understand each other better. It helps us to solve problems, make decisions, and build relationships. So, let’s all try to break down these barriers and communicate more effectively.

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Assignment- Barriers to Effective Communication Paper

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john warutere

Communication plays a crucial role in the functioning of organizations. In fact, what an organization requires mainly is communication. It is an inseparable, essential and continuous process just like the circulatory system in the human body. As a result, communication effectiveness becomes a very vital factor in determining the efficiency with which an organization performs as a whole. The existence of an organization depends upon a number of things like unity of command, delegation of authority and responsibility, teamwork and leadership, each one of which entails a strong support of interpersonal communication. Interpersonal communication, therefore, becomes the lifeblood of an organization. Fundamentals of interpersonal communication are communicators, message, noise, response, background and channel. Decent interpersonal communication skills support intimate relationship, counselling, selling, management, conflict management, etc. The various hindrances to effective interpersonal communication like sentiments, filtering, message crammed with information, defensiveness, cultural difference and argot can be overcome by simplifying language, controlling sentiments, listening ardently and using feedback. The paper examines the vitality of interpersonal communication for the subsistence of an organization.

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Thị Ngọc Huyền Nguyễn

Communication is the process of transmitting information and common understanding from one person to another. In this article, I discuss the communication process, barriers to communication, and improving communication effectiveness. ________________________________________________________________________

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What is Communication Process: Examples, Stages & Types

Table of Contents

Communication enables us to connect, share ideas, and collaborate with one another. But have you ever wondered what exactly goes into the process of effective communication? How do our thoughts and intentions transform into meaningful messages that are understood by others?

In this blog post, we will delve into the details of the communication process. We will explore its fundamental components, examine how messages are transmitted and received, and highlight the key factors that can influence successful communication.

Definition of the communication process?

“The systematic process in which individuals interact with and through symbols to create and interpret meanings in a particular context.” – Joseph A. DeVito “The process by which people use signs, symbols, and behaviors to exchange information and create meaning.” – Kory Floyd

What is the communication process? 

The communication process refers to the steps and elements involved in the successful transmission and understanding of a message between a sender and a receiver. It includes the exchange of information, ideas, opinions, or emotions through various channels or mediums. The communication process is cyclical, meaning it involves continuous feedback and adjustment. 

Effective communication requires clarity, relevance, active listening, and consideration of the needs and perspectives of both the sender and the receiver. By understanding and utilizing the communication process, individuals and organizations can enhance their ability to convey messages, build relationships, and achieve their communication goals.

Process of communication with diagram

What is the communication process cycle?

The communication process cycle is a continuous and dynamic sequence of stages involved in the successful exchange of messages between a sender and a receiver. The communication process cycle typically includes the following phases:

• Sender’s Input
• Message Transmission
• Message Reception
• Receiver’s Response
• Feedback Transmission
• Iteration and Adjustment

The communication process cycle is continuous, as it involves ongoing interactions and exchanges between the sender and the receiver.

Distinctive characteristics of the communication process?

The following characteristics help distinguish the communication process from other forms of human interaction and highlight its unique nature. The key characteristics of the communication process are as follows:

• Sender-Receiver Relationship : The communication process involves a relationship between the sender and the receiver. It requires both parties to participate actively and engage in the exchange of messages.
• Noise Effect : The communication process can be influenced by noise, which refers to any barriers or disruptions that affect the accurate transmission or reception of the message. Noise can be physical (e.g., background noise) or psychological (e.g., cultural differences) .

Related Reading : Psychological barriers to effective communication  

• Dynamic and Ongoing : Communication is a continuous process that involves ongoing interactions and exchanges between the sender and the receiver. It is not a one-time event but evolves.
• Subjectivity : The communication process is subject to interpretation and perception by both the sender and the receiver. Each individual may interpret and understand the message based on their own experiences, beliefs, and perspectives.

Components of the communication process

The communication process consists of several interconnected components that work together to facilitate effective communication.

1/ Sender: The sender takes the lead in initiating the communication process. They have a message or information to convey to the receiver. The sender’s role involves encoding the message, which means converting thoughts or ideas into a communicable format.

2/ Message: The message represents the ideas or informational content that the sender intends to convey. It can be expressed through different channels, including verbal, written, or non-verbal forms. Verbal elements include spoken or written words, while non-verbal elements encompass body language, facial expressions, and gestures.

3/ Channel: The channel serves as the pathway through which the message is conveyed from the sender to the receiver. Communication channels can include face-to-face conversations, phone calls, emails, text messages, video conferencing, or social media platforms.

4/ Receiver: The receiver is the person or group of people who are the intended target of the message. They play a crucial role in the communication process by decoding and interpreting the message received from the sender.

5/ Feedback: Feedback is the response or reaction given by the receiver in relation to the sender’s message. It serves as a vital component of the communication process, allowing the sender to gauge the effectiveness of their message and make necessary adjustments.

To know more check out our detailed article on: What are the components of the communication process

Types of the communication process

Communication processes can be broadly categorized into four main types:

1/ Verbal Communication Process: Verbal communication involves the usage of spoken or written language to express and convey messages. It allows for immediate feedback and clarification, promoting interactive and real-time exchanges.

Further Reading: What is verbal communication

2/ Nonverbal Communication Process: Nonverbal communication involves the transmission of messages without the use of words.  It incorporates a range of nonverbal cues such as physical movements, hand gestures,  vocal intonation, interpersonal distance, and other forms of nonverbal expression.

Further Reading: What is nonverbal communication

3/ Visual Communication Process: Visual communication relies on visual elements to convey messages. It involves the use of images, graphics, charts, diagrams, videos, presentations, and other visual aids. Visual communication is effective in simplifying complex information, enhancing understanding, and appealing to visual learners.

Further Reading: What are the advantages and disadvantages of visual communication

4/ Written Communication Process: Written communication includes the utilization of written words or text as a means to convey information. It includes letters, memos, reports, articles, emails, text messages, social media posts, and other forms of written communication.

Further Reading: What is written communication with example

How does the communication process work? 

The communication process involves 8 interconnected stages that facilitate the exchange of information, ideas, or messages between a sender and a receiver. Here’s a simplified explanation of how the communication process works:

8 stages of the communication process 

1/ Sender’s Input: The communication process begins with the sender, who initiates the communication by having a message to convey. The sender identifies the purpose of the communication and formulates the message accordingly. This involves determining what information, ideas, or emotions need to be conveyed and what outcome the sender hopes to achieve through the communication.

2/ Encoding the message: After formulating the message, the sender encodes it by selecting appropriate symbols, language, or means of expression. Encoding involves converting thoughts or ideas into a form that can be understood by the receiver. This could include: 

• Selecting specific words 
• Using nonverbal cues such as gestures or facial expressions 
• Utilizing visual or auditory elements to enhance the message’s meaning.

3/ Message Transmission: Once the message is encoded, the sender transmits it through a chosen communication medium or channel. The medium can vary depending on the nature of the communication and the available options, such as: 

• Face-to-face conversations
• Written communication
• Telephone calls or emails, 
• Social media platforms

The sender selects the most suitable medium to effectively deliver the message to the receiver.

4/ Receptioning the Message: The receiver, who is the intended recipient of the message, receives the transmitted message through the selected medium or channel. The receiver perceives the message using their senses (e.g., hearing or reading) or through technological devices (e.g., listening to an audio recording or reading a text on a screen). The receiver’s attention and focus on the message play a crucial role in this stage.

5/ Decoding the Message: Upon receiving the message, the receiver decodes it by interpreting and extracting meaning from the information received. Decoding involves understanding the encoded symbols, language, or context used by the sender to derive the intended message. The receiver applies their knowledge, experiences, cultural background, and perceptual filters to make sense of the message and derive meaning from it.

6/ Receiver’s Response: After decoding the message, the receiver formulates a response or feedback based on their understanding and interpretation. This response can take various forms, such as verbal or written communication, actions, or nonverbal cues. The response allows the receiver to provide: 

• Feedback, 
• Seek clarification, 
• Ask questions, 
• Express agreement or disagreement, 
• Contribute additional information related to the message.

7/ Feedback Transmission: The receiver’s response is transmitted back to the sender through the same or a different communication medium or channel. Feedback serves as an essential component of the communication process, as it provides valuable information to the sender. It helps the sender gauge the effectiveness, understanding, and impact of the message on the receiver. Feedback allows for adjustments, clarification, and improvement of future communications, ensuring the accuracy and clarity of the message.

Related Reading : What is feedback in the communication cycle

8/ Noise: Throughout the communication process, various factors can influence the effectiveness of communication. These factors include noise, which can be

• External Noise: (e.g., Environmental distractions or technical issues) 
• Internal Noise: (e.g., Preconceived notions or biases) 

Noise can disrupt message transmission or reception. The communication context, such as the physical environment, cultural norms, relationship dynamics, and power dynamics between the sender and receiver, can also impact the communication process.

Example of the communication process? 

Sarah, a project manager, wants to inform her team about a change in project deadlines, so she sends an email.

1/ Sender: Sarah, the project manager

• Sarah, as the project manager, is the sender of the message. She initiates communication by composing and sending emails.

2/ Message: Change in project deadlines

• The message is about the change in project deadlines. Sarah wants to inform her team members about this important update.

3/ Encoding: Composing the email

• Sarah encodes her message by composing an email. She chooses the appropriate words, tone, and structure to effectively convey the information regarding the change in project deadlines.

4/ Medium: Email

• The medium used for communication in this scenario is email. Sarah sends the message through the company’s email system.

5/ Channel: Company’s email server

• The channel refers to the means through which the message is transmitted. In this case, the email is transmitted through the company’s email server to reach the team members’ inboxes.

6/ Receivers: Sarah’s team members

• Sarah’s team members are the intended receivers of the message. They will receive and interpret the email sent by Sarah.

7/ Decoding: Reading and understanding the email

• The team members decode the email by reading it and interpreting the content. They understand that there has been a change in project deadlines based on the information provided by Sarah.

8/ Feedback: Team members’ response or clarification

• After decoding the message, the team members may provide feedback to Sarah by replying to the email. They might seek clarification, acknowledge the change, or ask questions related to the new deadlines.

9/ Noise: Distractions or communication barriers

• Noise can refer to technical issues with the email server, language barriers, or even conflicting priorities that could negatively affect the effective transmission or reception of the message.

10/ Context: Project management and deadlines

• The context of the communication is the project management and the change in deadlines. It provides the background and relevance for Sarah’s message to her team members.

The example highlights how the communication process functions within a business, specifically in the scenario of Sarah communicating changes in project deadlines to her team members via email.

Examples of communication models: 

Communication models provide frameworks for understanding the complexities of the communication process. Two well-known models are the Shannon-Weaver model and the Transactional model. The Shannon-Weaver model focuses on the transmission of information from the sender to the receiver through a linear process.

The Transactional model emphasizes the dynamic nature of communication, where both the sender and receiver actively participate in encoding, decoding, and exchanging messages.

Why communication process is important? 

The communication process serves as the foundation for effective and meaningful interactions between individuals, groups, and organizations. Here are some key reasons why the communication process is vital:

• Enhancing Decision-Making: Effective communication is essential for informed decision-making. Through the communication process, individuals can gather insights, weigh different options, and collectively arrive at well-informed decisions that consider multiple factors and stakeholder interests.
• Conflict Resolution: Communication plays a vital role in resolving conflicts and addressing differences. By encouraging open dialogue, active listening, and empathy, the communication process allows individuals to express their concerns, and find mutually acceptable solutions.
• Achieving Organizational Objectives: In the organizational context, the communication process is vital for achieving goals and objectives. It ensures that employees understand the organization’s vision, mission, and strategies.
• Influencing and Persuasion: Communication is a powerful tool for influencing and persuading others. The communication process allows for the delivery of persuasive messages that can shape opinions, change behaviors, and motivate individuals or groups to take desired actions.
• Social and Cultural Cohesion: Communication is a fundamental aspect of human interaction and societal cohesion. The communication process helps bridge gaps, promote understanding across diverse cultures, and foster inclusive and harmonious relationships within communities and societies.

Importance of the communication process in real life?

Effective communication serves as a cornerstone for building and nurturing relationships in personal, and social life. By actively engaging in the communication process, individuals establish connections and build trust, which forms the foundation of healthy and meaningful relationships.

Moreover, the communication process provides a platform for individuals to express their thoughts, emotions, and experiences. It serves as a medium for self-expression, enabling individuals to share their perspectives and joys with others. 

Additionally, engaging in the communication process contributes to personal growth and development. It enhances self-awareness and interpersonal skills. Through active participation in communication, individuals can refine their communication abilities, become more adaptable, and strengthen their relationships, both personally and professionally.

What are the common problems in the process of communication?

There are several common problems that can arise in the process of communication. These problems can hinder effective communication and lead to misunderstandings or breakdowns in the exchange of information. Here are some common communication problems:

1/ Misunderstandings : Misunderstandings can arise when the receiver does not accurately grasp the intended meaning of a message, leading to misinterpretations. This can happen due to differences in language or individual interpretations. Misunderstandings can result in misinformation and ineffective communication.

2/ Encoding and Decoding Errors: Encoding involves transforming thoughts or ideas into a communicable format, while decoding refers to the interpretation of the received message. Errors can occur during encoding or decoding, leading to misinterpretation or distortion of the intended message.

3/ Channel Selection : Choosing the appropriate communication channel is crucial for effective message transmission. Using an incorrect or inefficient channel can lead to message loss, distortion, or delayed communication. Selecting the right channel based on the nature of the message and the target audience is essential.

4/ Lack of Adaptability : Communication processes need to be adaptable to different contexts, audiences, and communication styles. Failing to adapt the communication approach can result in resistance or a lack of engagement from the intended recipients.

How does intercultural communication affect the communication process? 

Intercultural communication refers to the exchange of information and ideas between individuals or groups from different cultural backgrounds. It plays a significant role in today’s globalized world where people with diverse cultural identities interact and collaborate. Intercultural communication can have a profound impact on the communication process in several ways:

• Language Barriers: Different cultures have distinct languages or variations of languages. When individuals from different cultures communicate, language barriers may arise , making it challenging to convey ideas accurately.
• Nonverbal Communication Differences: Nonverbal communication, such as eye contact and body movements can reflect cultural variations. Various cultures may attribute different interpretations to specific nonverbal cues, resulting in differences in meaning and understanding.
• Cultural Context: Cultural context significantly influences the communication process. Social norms, customs, and historical backgrounds shape how messages are constructed and interpreted. Without an understanding of the cultural context, messages may be misunderstood. 

Related Reading : Cultural Barriers To Communication: Examples & How to Overcome it

Communication process in the workplace 

In the workplace, the communication process refers to the series of interactions through which information, feedback, and instructions are exchanged between employees or teams to achieve common goals and facilitate effective work dynamics.

It involves both verbal and non-verbal communication , utilizing various channels and methods to ensure clear and meaningful understanding among employees and across different levels of the organization. 

Communication process in advertising 

In advertising, the communication process refers to the strategic and systematic approach of developing and delivering persuasive messages to target audiences with the goal of promoting products, services, or ideas. It involves a series of interconnected stages that aim to capture attention, generate interest, and elicit desired actions from the audience.

Impact of Technology on the communication process 

The impact of technology on the communication process refers to the changes and transformations that technology has brought to the way people exchange information, connect with others, and engage in communication. It has revolutionized various aspects of communication, including speed, accessibility, reach, and modes of interaction. Here are some key impacts of technology on the communication process:

• Speed and Efficiency: Technology has drastically increased the speed and efficiency of communication. Messages can be sent and received instantly through various digital platforms, reducing the time required for information exchange and decision-making processes.
• Global Connectivity: The internet and digital communication technologies have facilitated global connectivity, bringing together individuals from diverse regions of the world. Geographic barriers no longer limit communication, allowing individuals to connect, collaborate, and engage with others regardless of their physical location.
• Expanded Communication Channels: Technology has expanded the range of communication channels available. In addition to face-to-face conversations, people can communicate through emails, instant messaging, video calls, social media platforms, and other digital tools. This variety of channels provides flexibility and choice in how people interact and exchange information.

In addition, the impact of technology on the communication process also comes with challenges. Misinterpretation, miscommunication, and information overload are limitations of digital communication . Balancing virtual interactions with maintaining personal connections and non-verbal cues can also be a challenge. It is important to be mindful of these challenges and adapt communication strategies accordingly.

What makes the communication process effective and ineffective? 

Key factors that make the communication process effective:.

1/ Clarity: Clearly articulating ideas and messages using concise and understandable language helps ensure that the intended meaning is easily comprehended by the audience.

2/ Active Listening: Actively engaging in the communication process by attentively listening to the speaker, seeking clarification when needed, and demonstrating genuine interest in their message.

3/ Empathy and Understanding: Showing empathy towards others’ perspectives, being open-minded, and seeking to understand their viewpoints fosters a positive and inclusive communication environment.

4/ Feedback and Confirmation: Providing feedback to the speaker to confirm understanding, asking questions, and actively seeking clarification when necessary to ensure accurate comprehension.

5/ Contextual Awareness: Being mindful of the context and situation in which the communication takes place, including cultural norms, social dynamics, and any relevant background information.

6/ Timeliness: Communicating information in a timely manner, providing updates and responses promptly, and avoiding unnecessary delays to maintain the relevance and effectiveness of the communication .

By incorporating these factors into the communication process, individuals can enhance their ability to convey messages clearly and promote meaningful and effective interactions.

Key factors that can make the communication process ineffective:

1/ Non-Verbal Inconsistency: Sending conflicting non-verbal cues, such as mismatched facial expressions or body language, can create confusion and mistrust.

2/ Information Overload: Overwhelming the audience with excessive or irrelevant information can lead to disengagement and hinder understanding.

3/ Assumptions and Stereotyping: Making assumptions about others’ knowledge, beliefs, or experiences based on stereotypes can lead to miscommunication and misunderstandings.

4/ Emotional Barriers: Allowing strong emotions, such as anger, frustration, or fear, to dominate the communication process can prevent effective dialogue and problem-solving.

Awareness of these factors can help individuals identify and address potential barriers to effective communication and fostering productive interactions

Frequently Asked Questions 

Q1) what are the 7 steps of the communication process .

Ans: The communication process involves seven key steps: sender, message, channel, encoding, decoding, receiver, and feedback. The sender initiates the process by encoding a message, which is transmitted through a chosen channel. The receiver decodes the message and provides feedback, completing the communication loop. Following these steps enhances communication effectiveness.

Q2) What are the 5 stages of communication? 

Ans: The communication process involves five stages: sender, message, channel, receiver, and feedback. The sender encodes and delivers the message through a chosen channel, which is then received, decoded, and responded to by the receiver. 

Q3) What is most important in the communication process?

Ans: The most important aspects of effective communication are clarity and active listening. Clarity involves using clear and concise language, while active listening refers to actively engaging with the speaker during a conversation or communication exchange.  Other important elements include feedback, non-verbal communication, empathy, emotional intelligence, and adaptability.

Q4) What are the basics of the communication process? 

Ans: The basics of the communication process include a sender who encodes a clear message, a chosen channel for transmission, an engaged receiver who decodes the message, and feedback for effective communication. Minimizing noise and considering the context is important.

Q5) What is a two-way communication process?

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• Barriers in Communication

What do Barriers to Effective Communication Mean?

Several communication barriers in the workplace tend to manipulate the message that passes from sender to receiver. It leads to conflict among organizational members. Managers often cite that failure of communication is one of the significant issues in the organization. However, communication issues are often signs of long-standing problems. For example, an organization structure designed poorly may not communicate organizational goals. Imprecise performance benchmarks may leave managers unsure of what is expected from them. However, a responsible manager will look for the causes of barriers in communication rather than just dealing with the symptoms. Barriers in communication can exist in the sender, in the transmission of messages, in the receiver, or in the feedback. Read the article below to understand nine common barriers to effective communication.

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What is Communication?

Communication is crucial to the existence and survival of humans as well as an individual. In other words, communication is the exchange of information between two entities. Every action of ours can be seen as a means to communicate. This exchange is not necessarily in words only. It could be a gesture like a raised eyebrow or waving to a friend when you spot them in a crowd. Communication means sharing something with another person or a group of people.

What are Communication Barriers?

A communication barrier is anything that comes in the way of receiving and understanding messages that one sends to another to convey his ideas, thoughts, or any other kind of information. These various barriers of communication block or interfere with the message that someone is trying to send. There are numerous barriers to effective communication that can come in the way. It happens because the message sent by the sender might not be understood exactly as it is meant to be. It can get distorted during the communication exchange. These different types of communication barriers can come at any stage in the process of communication. It can come because of the bias or stereotyping and generalization that exists in the workplace.

9 Common Effective Barriers to Effective Communication

A skilled communicator  needs to have information about the different types of barriers to effective communication and try to prevent them. These barriers to effective communication can be overcome by active listening, reflection, etc. The communicator must seek feedback from the receiver of the information to check if the message was understood in its true sense. Listed below are some of the common barriers to effective communication.

Using Jargon:

If one uses unfamiliar terms or over-complicated technical terms, it could not be understood well.

Lack of Attention or Interest:

If the message is irrelevant to the receiver or there are distractions around (like others speaking at the same time) then the message might not be communicated properly.

Perception Difference:

If two people see things differently  then their viewpoints might come in the way of deciphering the message correctly.

Physical Disabilities:

If the receiver has hearing problems, or the speaker has speech disabilities, then communication will not be effective. It will distort the message.

Emotional Barriers:

Sensitive topics make it difficult for the speaker or the receiver to engage properly in the communication exchange. It could also be that some people are not comfortable expressing themselves; hence their words might not reflect the true meaning of what they want to convey. Topics that may be taboo or off-limits for some people are politics, religion, mental or physical disabilities, racism, sexuality, and any other unpopular options.

The Difference in Culture:

Social interactions have different norms in different cultures. For example, the idea of space exists in some cultures and social settings but not in the same form in others. These cultural differences could prevent effective communication.

Physical Barriers to Communication:

A face-to-face communication has a lot of parts to the communication than just the words. Facial expressions, body language, gestures, etc. are also involved in the whole communication process. If you can’t see the person, then some messages might get lost. Text messages, phone calls, etc. are some of the technological ways of communicating which lack the effect of a personal meeting.

Language Difference:

The difference in dialects of different regions or unfamiliar accents can make it difficult to understand the message sent.

Prejudices:

Most people have preconceived notions about many things; hence they hear only what they want to listen to, not what is being said. These false assumptions and stereotyping lead to barriers in communication.

How to Overcome Barriers to Effective Communication?

Following are the different measures to overcome effective communication:

Ideas should be Clear before Communication

The person sending the message should have clear ideas in his mind about what he wants to convey. He should know the objective of the message and accordingly, he should arrange his thoughts in a systematized way.

Sender should Communicate According to the Receiver’s Needs

The sender should frame the structure of the message not according to his own level or ability but should keep in mind the level, understanding, and environment of the receiver.

Consult Others before Communication

During Communication planning, suggestions should be invited from all the concerned persons. Its main benefit is that all those people who are involved in the communication planning will contribute to the success of the communication system.

Be Aware of the Tone, Content, and Language of the Message

The sender should consider that the message should be transmitted in a clear, precise, and easy language. The tone of the message should not hurt the feeling of the receiver. Hence, try to formulate the content of the message in brief and ensure to avoid technical words.

Convey Things that is Helpful to Listener

The content of the message should be helpful and valuable to the receiver. The need and interest of the receiver should be kept in mind before communicating. Communication becomes more effective in such situations.

Ensure to getting Proper Feedback 

The aim of getting feedback is to find whether the receiver has properly understood the meaning of the message received. While communicating face to face, the reaction on the face of the receiver can be easily understood.

Message should be Consistent

The message sent to the receiver should not be inconsistent.  The information transferred should be in accordance with the objective, programs, policies, and techniques of the organization. When a new message is sent in place of the old message, a sender should always mention it as it will create confusion.

Follow Up Communication

To make the communication effective, the manager should attempt to know the weakness of the communication system. In this condition, effort should be made to know whether it is appropriate to focus more on formal communication or informal communication.

Be a Good Listener

Both sender and receiver must be good listeners in the communication process. Both should understand each other's points of view with patience, attention, and a positive attitude. A receiver can receive much relevant information if he is a good listener.

What are the Different Ways of Improving Communication?

The different ways of improving communication are:

To be a good communicator, the foremost step is to communicate well.

Have a positive attitude about communication

Constantly work at improving communication skills

Help managers and employees to improve their communication skills by making them understand their barriers.

Consider the effects of miscommunications

Always try to use assertive and active voice while communicating.

When you are being communicated to, list down the important points in communication. This is the most effective way to ensure that there is no miscommunication.

Try to speak in the right tone as most miscommunication happens because either of the parties involved was not speaking in the right tone.

FAQs on Barriers in Communication

1. How can one mitigate some of the barriers of communication?

Some of the factors which can positively affect the communication process are as follows.

Active listening:

This skill can be acquired and developed by practicing it. It involves fully listening to what is being said and not merely hearing the message passively.

Clarification:

The listener can offer back to the speaker the meaning of what he or she has heard and understood. This is an important way to understand if what is being said is understood properly or not. Clarification becomes more important when there are difficult situations like sensitive emotions being discussed, etc.

Reflection:

By reflection, it means to paraphrase and restate the feelings as well as words spoken by the speaker. Reflection shows the speaker that you are trying your best to perceive what they are saying and understand the message.

2. What are the different kinds of communication?

There are mainly 4 different types of communication.

Verbal communication:

This type of communication relies on words. This is the most standard method of communication done by all of us daily. The other subcategories of this communication include intrapersonal communication, interpersonal communication, public communication, and small group communication.

Non-verbal communication:

This process of communication does not involve sounds or words. There are other cues like body language, eye contact, gestures, etc. used to convey the message. For example, raising an eyebrow to add meaning or tone to what you are saying.

Written communication:

The medium of such communication are written words in the form of a letter, journal, reports, e-mails, etc. Written communication is an indispensable part of communication, and they can also have features of visual communication like adding images to your email.

Visual communication:

This involves a visual display of information like photography, signs, maps, topography, banners, and posters, etc. Adding icons or emoticons in your text or e-mails are also forms of visual communication.

3. Please elaborate on the types of organizational communication barriers.

The different barriers to business communication are as follows.

Rules and policies:

If an organization is stringent about what kind of message, what medium, and mode of communication is to be used, then employees find it difficult to communicate.

Hierarchical positions in the organization:

If the status of employees at different positions makes the communication formal, then employees at lower levels would be reluctant in sending messages to their superiors. This fear of sending the wrong message often clouds communication effectiveness.

Facilities within an organization:

If facilities like phone, stationery, printer, etc. are not adequately offered to the employees, then it adversely affects communication within an organization.

Complex organizational structure:

If there are many management levels in a company, then communication gets delayed. It could also change till the time it reaches the intended recipient. 

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