Barriers to effective communication

The following, if encountered, can make us u2018switch offu2019 from what is being said, to allow our minds to temporarily concentrate on our surroundings:

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• Room too hot; too cold
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• Chair too hard; too soft
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• Lighting too bright; too dim
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• Draughts
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• Bad ventilation; stuffy atmosphere
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• Noiseu00a0
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• Sights (a window cleaner)
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• Smells
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• Interruptions
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Linguistic barriers derive from the speaker and sometimes make it difficult for the individual to be listened to, e.g.:

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• Using jargon or specialist language
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• Complex sentences
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• Complex vocabulary
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• Patronising manner
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• Delivery too fast
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• Delivery too slow and (ponderous)
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• Monotonous voice
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• Hesitant manner (too many u2018ummmsu2019 and u2018errrsu2019)
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• Inappropriate tone
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• Badly organised material
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• Delivery too loud or too quiet
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Usually seen when emotional states are either brought to the communication (e.g. the listener is already upset, or stressed) or result from it (e.g. something is said which provokes anger, disbelief, distress) and can come between what is being said, and effective listening and understanding.u00a0 These may include:

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• Own anxiety
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• Anger
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• Frustration (inability to get own views across)
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• Status difference
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• Prejudice
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• Perceived difference in class/ability/seniority/experience
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The physical condition of the listener can affect concentration and restrict the amount of information taken in:

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• Headache
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• Tiredness
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• Discomfort/pain/illness
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• Poor eyesight
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• Health/medical condition
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The speaker and the listener sometimes see the same situation from a different point of view and this can affect understanding (e.g. supervisor and management, or parent and child).

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• Social/cultural background differences
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• Attitude expected
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• Different expectations
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• Appearance of speaker/mannerisms
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• Accents
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What the speaker is saying may also be a barrier to the listener:

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• Subject for discussion doesnu2019t interest us
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• Speaker goes on for too long
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• Speaker is saying what we donu2019t want to hear (criticism/suggesting change etc.)
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• Youu2019ve heard it all beforeu00a0
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• Content too difficult/simplistic
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• Content repetitious
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Recipients may also put up personal barriers:

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• Preoccupied with own problems
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• Thinking about own response without hearing out the speaker
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• Looking for every opportunity to interrupt
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• Monopolising the conversation by trying to dominate speaking time, i.e. impatience with the listening role
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