Barriers to Communication By Aijaz Aryan

1. Presentation By:-
Aijaz Ahmed Rather
I.K.G P.T University

2.  The barriers to communication refer to
anything that interferes in the
communication process as a result of
which the message may not be received
by the receiver as was intended by the
sender. The barriers may also be defined
as obstructions, hurdles, stoppages and
bottlenecks in effective system of
communication.

3.  Semantic Barriers
 Physical Barriers
 Psychological Barriers
 Inter-Personal Barriers
 Organizational Barriers
 Technical Noise
 Poor Timing
 Perceptual Bias
 Lack of Interest
 Information Overload

4.  Semantic Barriers relate to the different
understanding and interpretations of the
words we use to communicate. Semantic
distractions occur when a word is used
differently than you prefer . A single word
conveys lots of different meanings. Each word
is understood in reference to the context of
the sentence as well as place and situation it is
used at. Semantic Distortion can be deliberate
or accidental. When it is deliberate, it is
intended so but the one that is accidental
hinders the progress of communication. It
renders ambiguity to the message and every
different individual may come to his own
conclusion in the end.

5.  Physical noise occurs
when the sender and
receiver try to
communicate in a
situation that is noisy.
 Physical distance,
disturbance, distracting
noise, bad weather etc.
 For example, the bus
stop. The noise produced
by the passing buses
create what is known as
‘physical noise’.

6.  Psychological barriers occur
when the receiver of the
message is thinking of
something and not concentrating
on the message itself, for
example, having class in a park.
 While this may sound like a nice
and comfortable situation to be
in the message may be lost if the
receiver of the message is
thinking about if the grass is wet
or if there are any harmful bees
around.
 As the receiver loses
concentration on what is being
transmitted by the sender, so we
have ‘psychological barriers’.

7. Sender and receiver – different economic,
educational and status level
Barrier from Superior
 Shortage of time for employee
 Lack of trust
 Lack of trust for employee’s needs and
expectations
 Desire to capture authority by retaining
information
 Fear of losing power of control
 Bypassing
 Information overload to employees – missing
grain from chaff.

8. Barrier from Subordinate
 Lack of proper channel – how does he
convey?
 No interest to communicate
 Lack of cooperation and mutual
understanding
 Lack of trust and co-ordination
 Poor social relationship
 Fear of penalty.

9. Interference from relative status and
power of participants, incompatible
needs and expectations
 Organizational culture – impacts freedom
and trust
 Organizational rules and regulations
 Status relationship
 Complexity in organizational structure
 Inadequate facilities and opportunities
 Lack of cooperation between senior and
subordinate.

10.  Language
 Values and norms of behaviour
 Social relationship
 Concept of time
 Concept of space
 Non-verbal communication
 Perception
 National character / basic personality

11.  Selective Perception – ‘I know it syndrome’, ‘waste
of time’
 Status relationship - – monologues by seniors
 Inattention
 Poor retention
 Undue importance of written words
 Defensiveness to a unpleasant message
 Closed minds – lack of background knowledge.
 State of health – lack of alertness.
 Filtering

12.  Technical noise occurs
when the sender and the
receiver use a tool to
communicate for
example, a phone.
 When 2 people are
communicating using the
phone, and one person
steps into an elevator,
the signal will be lost
and the communication
will fail. The break down
with the tool used to
communicate is known
as ‘technical noise’.

13.  Lack of knowledge of technology
 Advancement in technology
 Noise
 Fear of lack of security

14.  Poor timing usually
happens when the sender
is not aware of the mood
of the receiver when
sending the message.
 For example, approaching
your employer for a raise
when he/she has just made
an announcement that the
company is almost
bankrupt.

15.  Perceptual bias occurs when the sender is not
aware of the rules of first impression.
 For example, when you attend an interview
there is an appropriate dress code.
 Failure to follow that dress code may result in
you being prejudiced against. If you go for an
interview for an accounting position dressed
in jeans and a t-shirt, don’t be surprised if
you don’t get the job.

16.  Sometimes, there are some
things that we are just not
interested in. Of all the
subjects that students learn
to complete their degree,
they cannot love all.
 There will be the ONE or
TWO subject that we have to
suffer to stay awake for. A
lack of interest in what
someone has to say will
definitely lead to a
breakdown in
communication.

17.  Ever heard of
prejudices? Someone
doesn’t like you
because you are
male/female,
old/young, rich/poor.
 There are biases. A
bias is something that
the sender cannot fix.
There is no solution
to this problem. Just
be prepared.

18.  Information overload
occurs when you try to
absorb too much
information over a short
period of time.
 If you try to study
continuously for hours
without a break, or
introduce too many new
concepts to your learning
in one period of time,
your mind will become
confused and this can
lead to a break down in
communication.

19. END
Thank You