What is Meant by communication? Describe the various barriers to communication.

 

What is meant by communication? Describe the various barriers to communication.

               The word communication has been derived from the Latin word ‘Communis’ which means ‘common’. Communication is the activity or process of sharing or exchanging ideas, feelings, information between two or more persons, there are two persons i.e., sender and receiver.

Definition 

               According to Koontz and Weinrich,” Communication is the transfer of information from the sender to the receiver with information being understood by the receiver.

There are many scholars who give definition on communication process.

Barriers to effective communication-

There are some barriers for effective communication which is listed below-

1.     Sematic Barriers- The meaning of words, signs and symbols might be different from one person to another and the same word might have hundreds of meanings. So, when a message is sent by a sender to receiver. It might be interpreted wrongly in a communication process causing misunderstanding between them. It is called sematic barriers. Following are the causes of this barrier.

(i)               Bad expression- It occurs due to the usage of wrong words, certain omissions, confusing sentence structure etc.

(ii)             Symbols with different meaning- One word can have different meanings. It is very important that each worker understands the message in correct context.

(iii)            Faculty Translations- Sometimes the ideas which are drafted in one language might have to be translated into another language so that the workers can understand it. This process of translation can cause many errors.

(iv)            Unclarified Assumptions- Sometimes sender assume that receiver know everything and send message without clarifying those things. Doubts must always be entertained by the sender.

(v)             Technical Jargon- Specialist may use the technical language related to their field while explaining processes to the workers. This must be avoided as they might not understand it.

2.     Psychological or emotional Barriers- Such barriers when there is difference in the state of mind of the sender and receiver of the message. There are some psychological barriers.

(i)               Premature Evaluation- Some people have the tendency to judge a situation even before the full message is conveyed. This is called pre mature evaluation.

(ii)             Lack of Attention- People who don’t listen properly with proper attention and focus might not perceive the information correctly.

(iii)           Loss by Transmission- When a message passes orally among various groups, there is always a transmission of an inaccurate message.

(iv)           Distrust- Sometimes, the workers don’t trust their superiors. This feeling of distrust doesn’t allow them to perceive the message in the original sense.

3.     Organizational Barriers- Such barriers arise due to incompatibility with the rules and regulations, organizational structure or authority-responsibility relations.

(i)               Organizational Policy- Some companies don’t provide an environment for the free flow of information. Such policies destroy the basic intention of communication.

(ii)             Rules and regulations- Certain rules and regulations might prevent or cause delay in transmission of message.

(iii)           Complexity in organization structure- In the case of a large company, communication and decision making get delayed due to numerous managerial levels.

(iv)           Status difference- If the superior or manager is concerned about his position and status, he might not allow the workers to express themselves freely.

(v)             Lack of organizational facilities- The lack of frequent feedbacks and suggestions cannot only restrict message but also hamper the chance of betterment of communication systems.

4.     Personal Barriers- Such barriers are mainly related to the personal feelings of the sender and receiver of the message.

(i)               Unwillingness to communication- The workers might not communicate with their superior because their interests might get affected.

(ii)             Lack of confidence in subordinates- If the superior feels that his employees are not competent, he might not ask for their opinions on certain matters.

(iii)           Fear of challenge to authority- Some times, a superior may withhold certain information if his authority would getting affected.

(iv)           Lack of encouragement to subordinates- If superior does not give importance to suggestions and ideas of subordinates then he does not like to share information.

Conclusion-

There are many barriers which affects the communication process. Organization has to take a look on these type of barriers and give a appropriate solution to the management.