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Eliminating Communication Barriers

Communication barriers are the result of poor communication skills. These barriers to communication come in various forms. The ways for discovering and removing these barriers involves a communication process. But both the sender and receiver must be willing to work toward the same goal. It takes a joint effort to remove all barriers to effective communication.

Good workplace communication comes from necessary business communication. There is always common goals when in the same organization. Yet with a little effort everyone can still strive to improve communication. A small group of people usually overcome barriers better than a large group.

All common groups have common barriers. Discovering what they are is the essence of communication. Remove them. Then expand this process in simple steps to an entire organization. Good communication in the workplace is essential.

Be A Good Listener

Help others to be good listeners. Keep meetings short. Don't let people's minds wander. In a large or small group speak only of things that concern all members in that group. People lose interest quickly when the topic doesn't concern them. Keep explanations so simple that an eighth grader can understand it. Change the subject often. Tell each person what is expected of them and they will listen.

People seek out good listeners. When you listen you build trust and learn things that may help you in your path to success. Knowledge is power. When you understand others you can give them what they want. Then you are able to receive what you want.

Remove Physical Barriers

There may be a physical barrier that acts as a communication barrier. A closed office door, a screen, an uninviting cubicle, or a separate area down the hall. Over time they may become territorial sign and effective communication barriers. Even status is a communication barrier when a person becomes unapproachable.

At home the physical barrier is the closed door to a teenager's room or the locked master bedroom door.

Building Trust

There's also difficult people who tend to create a barrier to communication. One of the best ways for removing barriers to communication is the building of trust.

Lack of trust is an emotional barrier that may be deep rooted in some people. To build trust show the other person how you have taken an interest in his or her immediate problem.

Do this by offering a solution. Many times the recipient shakes it off or says that your suggestion hasn't worked. Don't expect to be thanked. Believe that you are building trust. When the other person finally sees that you have nothing to gain by offering help, trust has found a breeding ground.

Language and Cultural Barriers

Language barriers and cultural communication barriers may work against communication in the workplace. A cultural barrier may exist in community members who are new to a group or organization. Working for a long time with a previous employer may create a culture which becomes a communication barrier in the new workplace. Others may speak a language that is simply jargon between different professions.

Men and Women Work Differently

Men and women communicate differently. Men tend to speak in a linear and logical fashion. Women freely mix logic and emotion. Women speak 22,000 words per day and men 7,000. There's a communication barrier when men become impatient and fail to understand the message. Men need to learn patience. Women need to learn to communicate in short phrases. Both must recognize these natural barriers to communication.

Don't Become Emotional

It's easy to become emotional. Emotion is one the great barriers to effective communication. Keep emotions in check. Match your words and writing to the task at hand. Do not provoke or elicit an emotion in the other person. Whoever becomes emotional first loses.

Identifying communication barriers and developing a good working environment leads to team building and greater productivity. Set the example for removing barriers to communication by doing all you can to be clearly understood.

The previous article is on building Communication Skills.

Other wiki resources: communication skills; team building; employee communications; corporate communications; conflict resolution