COMMUNICATION | What are the fundamental barriers to effective communication?

What are the fundamental barriers to effective communication?

ANSWER

The major barriers to effective communication include: a poor choice of channels, poor written or oral expression; failure to recognize nonverbal signals; and physical distractions. Written channels are acceptable for simple and easy-to-convey messages, for those that require extensive dissemination quickly, and for conveying formal policy or authoritative directives. Oral channels work best for complex and difficult-to-convey messages. Oral channels also work well where immediate feedback to the sender is valuable. Finally, oral channels can create a supportive  even inspirational  emotional climate. Communication  either written or oral  will be effective only to the extent that the sender expresses a message in a way that can be clearly understood by the receiver. In nonverbal communication, a mixed message occurs when a person’s words communicate one message while his/her actions, body language, appearance, or situational use of interpersonal space communicate something else. Physical distractions such as interruptions from telephone calls, drop-in visitors, a lack of privacy, etc. can interfere with the effectiveness of a communication attempt.

Source: Management, 11th Edition & 12th Edition- John R. Schermerhorn